Middlesbrough Away Shirt 2017-18 Adidas Vintage - 8/10

Middlesbrough Away Shirt 2017-18 — Adidas, Championship Mesh

The 2017-18 season saw Middlesbrough FC start from scratch after relegation from the Premier League, with gritted teeth, undimmed ambition, and an Adidas away shirt on their backs to regain their place in the English elite. A Championship, sweat-and-determination shirt — exactly what true football fans recognise at first glance.

Shirt Details

Season: 2017-2018
Club: Middlesbrough FC
Type: Away
Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Sponsor: RAMSDENS CURRENCY
Condition: 8/10
State: SLIGHTLY USED PRINTINGS — authentic wear of a worn vintage shirt, light marks on the prints, a sign that this shirt has seen action

What this shirt represents

The 2017-18 season was a pivotal one in the recent history of Middlesbrough FC. After returning to the Premier League in 2016-17 for the first time since 2009, the Teesside club couldn't maintain their position and dropped back down to the Championship. With Steve Agnew, then Garry Monk at the helm, Boro found themselves back in the reality of England's second tier, with the ambition of quickly returning to the top flight. This 2017-18 Adidas away shirt embodies all that tension — that of a club too big for the Championship, which knows it must fight to regain its place.

On the pitch, players like Britt Assombalonga, who arrived to make a difference in this division, along with Martin Braithwaite and Patrick Bamford, carried the hopes of promotion. Garry Monk tried to build a team capable of reaching the play-offs, in a Championship as tight and unforgiving as ever. The atmosphere at Riverside Stadium remained intense — Boro fans didn't give up despite the disappointment of relegation, and this away shirt, worn on opposing pitches across England, is direct proof of that.

Moments etched in this shirt

The arrival of Britt Assombalonga — a strong signal
In July 2017, Middlesbrough broke the bank and signed Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest for around £15 million — a club-record transfer at the time. This ambitious signing in the Championship spoke volumes about the board's desire for quick promotion, and this 2017-18 Adidas shirt is the one Assombalonga wore for his first steps in a Boro kit.

The Championship season — between hopes and reality
Middlesbrough FC in 2017-18 ultimately finished outside the direct promotion spots and play-offs, in a league where even a slight negative run can derail a season. This away shirt was worn in stadiums like Elland Road, St Andrew's, and Hillsborough — temples of English second-division football, with their unique atmospheres and noisy stands.

Ramsdens Currency — a sponsor rooted in the local area
The sponsor Ramsdens Currency, a local Teesside company specialising in foreign exchange and pawnbroking, is anything but an anecdotal sponsor. It's a brand from the North-East of England, deeply linked to the local community, which reminds us that Middlesbrough is first and foremost a club of the region, of ordinary people, of an industrial area proud of its identity.

Authentic vs Replica

An authentic vintage Adidas shirt has a different cut from mass-market replicas: the technical fabric, the finish of the seams, the subtle details on the stripes or badges — all of this is palpable when you hold the shirt. Player-issue or match-worn versions from this era were produced in limited quantities and are now much harder to find than classic supporter replicas.

This one is in 8/10 condition with slight signs of wear on the prints — what vintage enthusiasts call "slightly used printings." This isn't a defect; it's proof of authenticity. A shirt that has never been worn, never washed, never lived in, is often suspicious. Here, the light marks tell a story: this shirt existed, someone wore it to experience the season.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage Adidas shirts from the 2010s often fit differently from modern cuts. An XL from 2017-18 might correspond to a current L depending on brands and collections — Adidas has regularly adjusted its cuts over the years, and versions intended for the English market can have their own specificities. Never rely solely on the size label without checking actual measurements.

Before buying, grab a tape measure and measure a shirt you wear regularly: shoulder width, chest circumference, total length. Compare with the product measurements if available, or contact us directly — we're here to ensure you don't end up with a shirt that's too tight or too loose in your wardrobe. A collector's shirt should be wearable or proudly displayed, not folded in a drawer.

Why have it in your collection

The Middlesbrough away shirt 2017-18 is a collector's item for several concrete reasons. Firstly, it's a particular season — a year of rebuilding after relegation, with strong investments and real ambitions. Secondly, Middlesbrough FC is not a club you come across everywhere in vintage shirt collections: that's precisely what makes it interesting. Less common than a Manchester United or Chelsea from the same era, it speaks to those who truly understand English football in its depth.

And then, in 8/10 condition, with slightly worn prints but an overall very clean shirt, it's a state you won't often find for this specific model. Championship shirts circulate less than Premier League ones, are less carefully preserved, and often end up in much worse condition. There aren't many in this condition on the market — it's now or probably never.

To go further

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

This shirt is pure English football — no glitter, no glamour, just a North-East club fighting to exist at the highest level. If you're a fan of real football, you already know what it's worth.