How to Tell If a Vintage Football Shirt Is Authentic: A Perth Collector's Guide
1. Check the Club Crest
An authentic vintage shirt will have the club crest of the exact era it was made. Crests change over time — if the badge looks modern on an "80s" shirt, something is wrong. Compare it to historical photos from that period.
2. Read the Manufacturer Tags
Every legitimate vintage shirt has manufacturer tags at the back of the neck. Look for the correct brand logo for that era, size labels in the format used at the time, and country of manufacture — many genuine 80s and 90s kits were made in the UK, Portugal, or Italy.
3. Feel the Fabric
Shirts from the 1980s and early 1990s are typically heavier polyester or poly-cotton. Later shirts became lighter and more synthetic. If the fabric feels suspiciously thin or lightweight for the era claimed, that's a red flag worth investigating further.
4. Look at the Badge Stitching
Authentic crests have clean, tight embroidery or heat-press work. Loose stitching, puckering, or slightly wrong colours are warning signs of a non-genuine item. Hold the shirt to the light — uneven thread tension is a telltale sign.
5. Research the Specific Shirt
Google the shirt name plus "authentic" and compare photos. Football Kit Archive documents thousands of kits with detailed tag and badge photos — one of the best free resources for collectors.
6. Check Fonts and Sponsor Logos
Non-genuine shirts often use slightly wrong fonts or incorrect spacing on sponsor logos. Check what the sponsor logo actually looked like in that specific year.
7. Buy From a Trusted Source
The safest option is a specialist retailer. At First Street, Perth's dedicated vintage football shirt store at 274 William Street, Northbridge every shirt is inspected and verified before sale. 100% original, authenticated stock, every time.
Visit Us in Northbridge, Perth
Bring any shirt you want authenticated to First Street, 274 William Street, Northbridge, Perth WA 6003. We're happy to help whether you bought it from us or elsewhere. Open 7 days — email us at sam@firststreet.store.
