Reading 2009-10 Puma Home Cisse Vintage S Shirt

Reading 2009-10 Puma Home Shirt — Cissé Print at the Madejski

In 2009-10, Reading FC battled in the Championship to return to the Premier League, and this Puma home shirt with CISSE printed on the back perfectly captures that pivotal moment for the club. A player's shirt, not a replica from a store shelf — someone actually wore it with that name on the back.

Shirt Details

Season: 2009-2010
Club: Reading FC
Type: Home
Kit Manufacturer: Puma
Sponsor: WAITROSE
Condition: 8/10
State: LITTLE PULLS, LITTLE SPOTS — authentic wear of a worn vintage shirt, not a new item that has never seen a locker room

What this shirt represents

In the 2009-10 season, Reading FC was playing in the Championship, England's second division, four years after reaching the heights of the Premier League. The Berkshire club was undergoing a post-elite rebuilding period, seeking to return to the level it had reached with a bang in 2006. The Madejski Stadium remained a respected fortress in the second division, and the Waitrose sponsor on the chest testified to a strong local partnership, rooted in the club's identity.

The CISSE print on the back of this shirt most likely refers to Kalifa Cissé, the Franco-Guinean defensive midfielder who played for Reading during this period. Trained in France and having played in the English league, Cissé was one of those unsung heroes who keep a team running without necessarily making headlines. Having his name on this shirt is exactly what makes the item interesting: not a bankable star, but an authentic Championship battler.

Moments etched in this shirt

Reading in the Championship — rebuilding after the Premier League
Relegated in 2008 after two seasons in the Premier League, Reading FC began its reconstruction with ambition. The 2009-10 season was part of this collective effort to return to the elite, with a reassembled team still capable of competing at the highest level of the Championship.

The Steve Coppell and then Brian McDermott era
The 2009-10 season saw Brian McDermott take the reins of the club after Brendan Rodgers' departure. This managerial change mid-season reflected the instability of the moment, but also the club's desire to bounce back. McDermott would later lead Reading to the Championship title in 2012 — so this shirt belongs to the genesis of that great period.

Puma and Reading — a discreet but solid partnership
Puma outfitted Reading at this time with typical late 2000s cuts: clean, functional, without excessive frills. It wasn't the most publicized partnership in the football world, but it produced shirts that have aged well and are now sought after by collectors of vintage English shirts.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage shirt is an item made for playing, not for wearing in the stands. The finishes are different, the fabrics more technical, the fit more tailored. At the time, the distinction between player and supporter was immediately visible in the quality of the fabric and the construction of the shirt — and that's exactly what you have here.

This shirt is in 8/10 condition, with slight bobbling and a few small spots — what is known in the trade as honest wear. Nothing that detracts from the piece, nothing that offends the eye. It's the mark of a shirt that has lived, and that's precisely what gives it character compared to a plastic-wrapped replica fresh out of a box.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage size S shirts from this era do not correspond to current standards. A Puma S from 2009 generally fits like a modern XS, or a very slim S. The cuts were designed for athletes, not for casual comfort — if you're used to the looser modern shirts, take this into account before buying.

Before finalizing your order, get a tape measure and measure your chest circumference and torso length. Compare with the actual shirt measurements if available, or don't hesitate to contact us directly. A collector's shirt that doesn't fit stays in a drawer — and that's a shame.

Why have it in your collection

Vintage Reading FC shirts are underrepresented in collections, especially compared to Premier League clubs that dominate showcases. That's exactly why they are interesting: they tell a story of authentic English football, far from the glamour of big teams, with a real flavor of the English second division. A print like CISSE — an unsung player, a name that speaks to true connoisseurs — is the kind of detail that makes a difference in a serious collection.

In 8/10 condition, this shirt is in a rare state for a fifteen-year-old item. The minor imperfections mentioned are small and do not affect the legibility of the print or the overall appearance of the shirt. There aren't many in this condition on the market — well-preserved examples from this Championship era are becoming increasingly rare, and prices are not going to go down.

To go further

• Reading FC — Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — History of Kits
• UEFA — European Football

This Reading 2009-10 Cissé-printed shirt is a piece of English Championship to hang in your collection — if you have it in the right size, don't miss out.