{"product_id":"2020-22-margate-shirt","title":"Margate FC Away Shirt O'Neills 2020-22 The Libertines vintage","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eMargate FC 2020-22 – The O'Neills away kit sponsored by The Libertines\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish non-league football shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e sponsored by a cult post-punk rock band? Yes, you read that right. This \u003cstrong\u003eMargate FC 2020-22 away kit\u003c\/strong\u003e, manufactured by \u003cstrong\u003eO'Neills\u003c\/strong\u003e and featuring \u003cstrong\u003eThe Libertines\u003c\/strong\u003e as its main sponsor, is probably one of the most unusual and heartfelt pieces you can find in the world of \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish grassroots football\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eKit Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:2;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2020-2022\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Margate FC – Lower Leagues (Southern Counties East Football League \/ Isthmian League)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Away\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e O'Neills\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e THE LIBERTINES\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e TINY HOLE – authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, proof that it has lived\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhat this jersey represents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMargate FC\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of those English lower league clubs whose history is intertwined with that of a coastal Kent town, supported by its residents and loyal fans. The club plays in the lower divisions of English football, where the stands are never full of millionaires but always filled with real supporters. Between 2020 and 2022, the period was particularly chaotic for all non-league football in England: the \u003cstrong\u003eCovid-19 pandemic\u003c\/strong\u003e shattered schedules, interrupted seasons, and jeopardized dozens of amateur clubs already operating on tight budgets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIt is precisely in this context of survival and solidarity that \u003cstrong\u003eThe Libertines\u003c\/strong\u003e – the band of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat, partly native to the London indie scene but deeply connected to Margate, where Pete Doherty has made his home – decided to sponsor the local club's kit. This is not a calculated marketing operation between an agent and a PR department. It is an authentic gesture, rooted in a real relationship between a rock band and a town. This \u003cstrong\u003eO'Neills away kit\u003c\/strong\u003e therefore carries something rare: a human and cultural story that extends far beyond the pitch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eMoments etched in this jersey\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Libertines – Margate FC partnership: when rock meets non-league\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nPete Doherty, an iconic figure of British rock in the 2000s and a Margate resident, joined forces with the club during a period of great uncertainty. This \u003cstrong\u003eThe Libertines sponsorship\u003c\/strong\u003e made headlines in both football and rock media, becoming a symbol of community support at a time when lower division clubs desperately needed attention and funding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNon-league football during Covid: resistance and undiminished passion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons in the \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish lower divisions\u003c\/strong\u003e were an emotional rollercoaster – cancelled matches, behind closed doors, truncated seasons. Wearing this kit at that time was to assert that grassroots football would not capitulate in the face of the health crisis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eO'Neills and grassroots football: a kit manufacturer in tune with its clubs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eO'Neills\u003c\/strong\u003e, an Irish kit manufacturer specializing in Gaelic sports and amateur football, outfits dozens of non-league clubs across the British Isles. On this jersey, their expertise in serving grassroots football is fully visible – functional cut, solid finishes, clear visual identity of a club proud of its roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eAuthentic vs Replica\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e is one that was manufactured to be worn – on the field, in training, or in the stands. It is not a reproduction created after the fact for the collector's market. It bears the technical characteristics of the time, the finishes of a kit manufacturer like \u003cstrong\u003eO'Neills\u003c\/strong\u003e who works for real teams, and sometimes the small marks of time that prove its authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis jersey is in \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10\u003c\/strong\u003e condition, with a tiny hole – a minuscule snag that compromises neither the aesthetics nor the solidity of the whole. This kind of detail is irrefutable proof that you have a \u003cstrong\u003ereal vintage football shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e in your hands, not a collectible item taken out of a vacuum-sealed box. That's the difference between a display item and a true football relic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eVintage size guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage size L jerseys\u003c\/strong\u003e from 2020-22 by O'Neills generally follow a classic British cut, slightly more fitted than the modern oversized cuts we are used to today. An L from this era might correspond to a current M depending on body types, especially if you are used to the loose fits of major contemporary brands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore purchasing, take your measurements: \u003cstrong\u003echest circumference\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eback length\u003c\/strong\u003e are the two key measurements. An O'Neills L typically measures around 104-108 cm chest circumference and 72-74 cm length. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact us – we prefer a satisfied buyer to a returned jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhy have it in your collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish non-league football shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e with such strong cultural sponsorship as The Libertines don't come around often. It's a piece at the intersection of grassroots football, British rock, and the social history of a town like Margate – experiencing an artistic and cultural renaissance since the 2010s with the opening of the Turner Contemporary and the arrival of a vibrant creative scene. This \u003cstrong\u003eMargate FC collector's jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e speaks of all that at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn 8\/10 condition, it's a more than decent example for a jersey of this category. The \u003cstrong\u003etiny hole\u003c\/strong\u003e doesn't detract from the piece – on the contrary, it confirms its authenticity. There aren't many in this condition with this specific sponsorship circulating on the market. If you are a fan of \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish grassroots football\u003c\/strong\u003e, The Libertines, or simply a lover of pieces that tell a true story, you know what you need to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eTo go further\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"line-height:2.2;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Margate_F.C.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eMargate FC – Wikipedia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.footballkitarchive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFootball Kit Archive – Kit History\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Libertines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eThe Libertines – Wikipedia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.uefa.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUEFA – European Football\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-style:italic;line-height:1.8;\"\u003eThis jersey is pure football, authentic rock, and a town that refuses to disappear into anonymity – if that speaks to you, the decision is already made.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lower Leagues","offers":[{"title":"L","offer_id":54012073672979,"sku":"372396","price":49.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_2020-22-MARGATE-SHIRT-L-372396_1.jpg?v=1775502491","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/2020-22-margate-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}