It’s different, it’s very different. I’m going to say that right away, because us purists hate it when designers sully the simple white shirts of the England National Team. There have been chevrons, holograms and even a red strip through the shirt in recent years, yet Umbro designer David Blanch in his last incarnation, stripped the England kit to its most primal form. Now, we have subtle ‘design’ elements, including these ‘crosses’ (below) on the shoulder, by graphic designer Peter Saville. We’ve never seen that before, Clive.

What do we have here?

Here’s the new shirt, below, and it looks from these early images (released this morning) that the shirt is true to the ‘Tailored by Umbro’ form. I.e. It’s expensively cut like a Saville Row suit, with enough difference to the last version that is now ruined by negative memories of an unsuccessful World Cup performance.

New England Kit Revealed!

At first glance it appears the racing green England goalkeeper shirt survived, but I’m told it’s actually black with a purple trim (“Unbelievable, Jeff,” scoffed Umbro’s Aaron). Because the Robert Green ‘keeper’s jersey is haunted. Regardless of whether you put a Grandad collar on it.

"An increasingly diverse England" Umbro, 2010

But do I like the new England shirt? Yes I do, I bloody love it. The blue Umbro logo…works. The collar is functional yet interesting. Those graphically designed crosses are special: “The traditional red cross is still present alongside blue and green ones, which are colours present in the official England team crest,” explains Saville, “These have been joined by a purple cross, a blend of all the three previous colours to accentuate diversity.”

Details! Details! Details!

So it’s a ‘diverse’ England shirt. But most importantly, it’s a fresh one. New start and all that, lads? England play Bulgaria in Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier. You can see more pictures of their new shirt on Umbro.com

Rareness: 10/10

Once in a while I spot something on the Internet that truly surprises and excites. I didn’t even know this yellow England away Admiral shirt even existed, and here it is on collector ‘England Match Shirts’ Facebook page.

According to the blurb, this is a “Ray Kennedy Away yellow v USA Allstars 1976 Airtex shirt” from the “not recognised as a full international by FIFA” match in the American Bicentennial Celebration Tournament.

Number 16

I’m friends with “England Match Shirts” so I can see these pictures but I’m not sure you can, but perhaps you can put in a friend request to see more.

This was a pleasant surprise, the Mud Sweat Badges blog was given the nod by influential Saturday Supplement The Guardian Guide. You can see the link here, and the cutting below. Golly gosh, press cuttings for the vanity project. Must have a lay down.

Mud Sweat Badges: Guardian Approved.

The Guardian Guide

There is something about the blue Argentina away kit. Okay, it obviously evokes Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ moment. But beyond that, it is a ‘naughty’ shirt- not in the Danny-Dyer-tugging-on-a-snout manner of naughty, but in that this simple away shirt is the official giftwrapping of the misbehaving Argentinean, of all flavours.

Bloody rare shirt, this

This week, the above shirt has appeared on eBay for sale at £2,999. It’s a steal really, for this is claimed to have been worn in the 1990 World Cup Final, by Pedro Monzon, who was sent off in that Final and who became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off in a final. Naughty indeed.

Phwoar