Showing posts with label football shirts. Show all posts

Foudy's to open new store in Manchester

 

Foudy's are once again proving how committed they are in helping grow the women's game with their brand new store opening on Deansgate, Manchester on June 25th. 

Since being founded in 2020 Foudy's have been true pioneers of the women's game and this store opening just goes to show how they have progressed since the company started. From online to a physical store, this just shows how passionate the company are to get the women's merchandise out there as all us fans know, it isn't always easy to get our hands on merchandise for the women's team with the men's always being the main priority in major stores. When the store opens on the 25th of June fans will be able to walk in and get their new shirts with their favourite players name on the back in the correct font not having to settle for generic club name-sets or being fobbed off with the Premier League font, an all important step in getting the representation increased going forward. Female players will also be able to get their hands on boots for their own matches whilst there will also be some football related fashion available to purchase. Foudy's are also the only place in the UK where you are able to get official NWSL merchandise so this store is going to open a new league to a whole new fan base.

A huge selling point for the store though is that it is going to have an event space, somewhere for the women's football community to build and expand with hopefully some great events taking place to bring new and old fans together under one roof. Community is a huge part of the women's game so to have a space in a store for fans from all clubs to mix is going to be brilliant and it is going to be great to see what sort of events the store holds in the future.

In the stores announcement Foudy's said 'For far too long, women's football has been unreserved in sports retail. We're building a space that reflects the scale, ambition, and future of the women's game.' I think from the announcement it is safe to say Foudy's are going to go all in on making this the space every women's football fan has wished for and with it being the worlds first dedicated women's football store this will hopefully only be the beginning of the women's game being pushed out more in the physical retail space. Foudy's are really paving the way for others to follow however, hopefully this is only the beginning for the Foudy's physical stores and who knows maybe one day we could see different stores all over the country in the future. 

This is exactly what the fans need and it has been long overdue so thank you Foudy's for taking that first step and give the fans what they need to feel included within the game. 

Foudy's are hoping to open the store at 293 Deansgate, Manchester on the 25th of June 2026, keep an eye on their Instagram to keep up to date with how the progress of the store is going.

at No comments
Labels: ,

Our top 10 NWSL shirts for the 2026 season

Here we go the 2026 NWSL is almost ready to kick off and it is safe to say here at Edge of the Area we are excited to delve into the NWSL world once more. What better way to kick off the 2026 coverage than with a post about our top 10 favourite shirts (or jerseys) for the upcoming season. It is no secret that we love a good shirt and the NWSL clubs this year have pulled it out of the bag with some brilliant designs which some may find questionable whilst we actually like how unique they are. What we like is how most of the shirts have meaning behind them not just some random template design you often see these days. 

It was quite difficult to narrow this list down to our final placements and some great shirts have missed out however, here are our top 10 shirts for this season...

10. North Carolina Courage Away

This shirt is one of the simplest on this list but it just works really well. The thing that helped this shirt make it into our top 10 is how the club badge blends into the shirt really well, with some simple shirts the badge sticks out too much where as with this one it blends in but thanks to the rest of the shirt being a blank canvas you are drawn to the badge and sponsor logo which again flows with the shirts design. 

9. Bay FC Third

The Bay FC third shirt has combined colours really well and the black & poppy colour works really well together. The club have added in the bridge design which is a nod to the community of the Bay area which is always a nice touch when others are represented through the design, it just brings the fan base a bit closer to the club.

8. Racing Louisville Third

Racing Louisville have also captured the local community within their third shirt. The bold design is unique just like the local community and the colours are a true stand out which we can't wait to see on the field this season. Even the sponsors logo seems to flow really well within the design with the lighter green standing out from the darker shirt design.

7. Chicago Stars Home

This shirt was very nearly in the top 5 but it slipped down the rankings last minute due to the sponsor block breaking down the shirts design a little too much although it does make a little more sense when you see the back of the shirt which is obviously blank to allow for easy reading of the name set. The bold stripes on this shirt is what has led it to being in the top 10 it is a standout for sure and has a bit of a classic shirt feel to it. The badge of the white stripe just makes it that bit more of a standout too rather than being hidden in the design.

6. Angel City Home

How are Angel City entering their fifth year in the league? This seems to have flown by. What I love about Angel City is they don't go too out their with their shirt designs but they always look great. This seasons flare kit looks brilliant as it all focuses around the main part of the shirt... the club badge which is how shirt design should be considered. The pattern of the shirt bursts out of the badge in the clubs colours which on the black works really well.

5. Portland Thorns Home

I am so used to Portland being in red for their home kit from when I have watched before however, I am loving this change as the colours work so well together. Named the electric boom kit this is exactly that, bright colours with the roses print perfect for the Thorns. This kit really reminds me of the England 2019 kit which incorporated the flowers on a red shirt. The small rose detail in the corner is a nice little bonus on this shirt too just adding more of the Thorns philosophy into the design. 

4. Kansas City Current Third

The storm kit this year is another well worked kit for Kansas City Current. The bold current running through this captures the community of Kansas and the way the design flows through the whole shirt is absolutely brilliant. The way the different blues work together on this shirt is what has got it ranked so high on the list and the fact the current even runs along the back.

3. Orlando Pride Home

I will admit I am a bit biased on this one as the Pride are my team in the NWSL but I just love their purple home shirts, simple but not too simple all the time. Somehow it has already been 10 years since the Pride made their debut and this shirt incorporates the best bits from home shirts across those 10 years. I feel you can't beat a central logo on a football shirt too and this just works really well. The little hint of blue to tie in the past & future is also a very nice touch.

2. Utah Royals Third

This Utah third shirt is very unlucky not to make it into the top spot however, it will have to settle for second. The swarm shirt incorporates the beehive state around the bold Lioness and with the dark colours alongside the gold logo and sponsorship this shirt looks a little bit smarter than other shirts this season. Whilst some teams have gone bold in terms of colour and design the Royals have gone darker but kept it bold, different but impressive.

1. Orlando Pride Away

Taking the top spot we have the Orlando Pride away shirt which has such a special meaning behind it. The unity shirt has been designed to commemorate the 10 year remembrance of the Pulse nightclub tragedy. This is something the club has never let be forgotten in the passed and this shirt is a very touching tribute to those whole lost their lives and those who were deeply effected by the incident. The intertwined ribbons show a community coming together and being unbroken which again is a nice touch to a shirt honoring a tragedy in a tasteful and respectful way.

So there you have it those are our top 10 shirts for this seasons NWSL season. What we are loving the most though is that due to Foudy's here in the UK it is much easier to get our hands on the shirts at long last, no paying silly shipping and customs charges like we once had to. I guess this could be a bit of a dangerous thing for us too as we love to grow out football shirt collection with our favourites. At least one of these shirts is going to be purchased to add into the collection but it wouldn't be a surprise if over time even more get added. 

Which shirt is your favourite for this upcoming NWSL season?

at No comments
Labels: ,

There are plenty of new kits for the World Cup and here are our top 15 favourites...


An added bonus to the World Cup taking place is that all us fans who love football shirts get plenty of new releases for the tournament as kit manufacturers have finally begun to create kits specifically for the women's national teams rather them having to use the same as the men's teams. granted this makes it a bit more expensive for us collectors as there are plenty of shirts for us to purchase but it is nice to see the women getting the chance to standout on their own. There are some brilliant designs being released for the women's teams too and it is safe to say this World Cup is no different and there are some truly eye catching designs. Some shirts definitely standout more than others with bold in your face designs whilst some are a bit more subtle and go for a simpler classic kind of look. Today's post is a look at the 15 shirts that have quickly become favourites that we are looking forward to seeing throughout the tournament and why we are loving those specific designs, so here are the 15 shirts that have made the cut...


Canada Home

This Canada home shirt for the World Cup definitely stands out from the crowd whilst also representing the nation brilliantly. The classic red you associate with the nation is front and centre whilst the fading of the colour just adds another layer to the shirts design alongside the geometric print that makes up the bulk of the design. The added bonus of the maple leaf just captures a art of Canada's culture and adds to the representation of the nation. This is so much better than some of the plain red shirts we have seen Nike produce for Canada in the past and it is certainly going to help them stand out on the pitch.


Netherlands Away

Nike really have brought out some crazy in your face designs for the World Cup, some work and some not so much but this Netherlands one really stands out to us for all the right reasons. We ended up falling in love with the Netherlands in the Euro's due to the fan experience plus some of the players performances so of course we were looking forward to seeing what sort of shirt they would be wearing this time around. Nike hasn't disappointed with the design of the away shirt as the colours work so well together. This is definitely high up on the want to purchase list.


Portugal Away

This shirt is a bit of a Marmite shirt isn't it? People have either being loving it or hating it and we are   definitely on the loving it side. Our favourite shirts are those that stand out and are bold as you will see in this post, as for too many years teams were having boring generic shirts but these are just different and make a nice change. This design is pretty random but again Nike have managed to incorporate the nations primary colours into the shirt well without it being like a home shirt. We love when the nations main colours spill into the away kit too and they can represent those colours with less chance of clashing with the opposition.


Australia Home

The joint host nations shirts always impress us if we are honest as you can't really go wrong with the green and gold colourway. If we are being honest we did prefer the previous shirt with the collar however, this is still up there as one of our favourites for this competition. The green details against the gold background once again look absolutely fantastic and the swirl design on the shirt just adds a layer to the design without it being too in your face. We might like bold crazy shirts but with Australia's shirts a much simpler design works perfectly and this ticks all the boxes for us.



Netherlands Home

We did mention earlier in the post that we had a soft spot for the Netherlands these days and we guess it shows with the fact that both their shirts have made it into our top 15. The Netherlands away kit is out there and in your face where as the home shirt is a bit more classic and simple. It has the vibrant orange you always associate with Netherlands and just like with the Australian home shirt it has a subtle design built in rather than being a bold print as we see in the away shirt. Again the subtle design just stops the shirt being so plain and boring and is one of the reasons this shirt is here on our favourites list.


Denmark Home

Hummel is not really a manufacturer we are usually impressed by however, we are really looking forward to seeing this Denmark shirt being worn at the World Cup. This shirt design is the classic red you associate with Denmark with some bold white prints making the shirt catch your eye. For us though it is the faded design on the shirt which blends into the red brilliantly but is still very noticeable. This design features the Danish badge and bold prints without taking away from the otherwise simple design. We would love to actually see this shirt in person as who knows that print might be even bolder in person.


England Away

In the past both England shirts might have been on this list however, the home shirt this tournament is a let down compared to the last World Cup & Euro's. The away shirt though is a different story and is one we actually want to purchase. It gives us retro vibes and we can't help but think of the Italia 90 shirt when we look at this. It gives you those vibes but Nike have done well to work the design to make it unique for the Lionesses to stand out on the pitch for their own reasons as it is similar but not an identical copy. This is by far one of our favourites from all those nations heading to the World Cup and of course it will be the number 1 purchase. Even if we weren't English this would no doubt still have been purchased we just love it.


Italy Away

Puma never did Italy justice in our eyes and the shirts they were producing for them just weren't cutting it for us even if we did end up purchasing one of the third shirts from an outlet recently. Adidas on the other hand have created a nice and simple looking away shirt for the nation which catches our eye for all the right reasons. Adidas have really pulled it out of the bag with these designs and Italy's shirt is no different as the colours work well and the pattern on the shirt stands out without being too much. This is definitely one of our favourite Italy shirts in recent years, let's just hope we get to see it throughout the tournament.

Spain Away

This Spain away shirt is possibly our favourite out of all the away shirts that Adidas have released for the World Cup. With the ocean theme this shirt is totally different to what you would expect to see Spain wearing however, it works really well. All the colours work well together and the coral / sea life pattern stands out perfectly with out being too much as the main focus is of the detail growing out from the seams of the shirt. This shirt is definitely up there as one we really want to add to our collection just down to how different it is.


Japan Away

The Adidas shirt love continues with this stunning Japan away shirt that catches your eye due to the colours on the shirt rather than a bold in your face print. We don't think anyone expected a shirt like this for Japan but it works perfectly, the main focus is the nations badge but the colours made to look like the sky catch your eye and blend perfectly together. This shirt is so simple compared to some of our other favourites but we honestly just can't get enough of it. There seems to be a Japan shaped hole in our collection which this might fill perfectly if we were to find it in our size.


Germany Away

Look we told you Adidas have impressed us with their away shirts for the World Cup and the Germany away shirt isn't even the last to feature from Adidas in this post. Every time we go to the local Adidas outlet we get tempted to purchase some of the Germany shirts they have to offer but we always opt not to buy them, if we come across this shirt though it is going to be an instant purchase. Carrying on the climate theme from Adidas this green and gold colourway works brilliantly and the green forest design blends into the shirt perfectly with just a few leaf details standing out that bit more on the pattern rather than it being a full shirt of leaves which would possibly have been far too much.


Ireland Home 

We have to say that Castore are definitely becoming a manufacturer that we are paying more attention to these days as they are releasing some great shirts and the shirts are really good quality and provide a nice fit. It is Ireland's first time in the World Cup and they have a nice simple & classic shirt to wear for their debut in the tournament. Castore have kept the green as the main focus of the shirt with just small strips of white and orange to incorporate the nations flag colours. Nice and simple and a shirt we 100% want in our collection.


Switzerland Home

We mentioned earlier that Puma had let us down in recent years with shirt releases however, there is one that we are really liking for the World Cup. The shirt we are loving is the Switzerland home shirt, this is much simpler than 90% of the other shirts on this post but it is a simple shirt that works. Previously Puma shirts have looked like those cheap templates you can get in Sports Direct however, this one just looks a lot better and the white across the shoulders just stops the shirt being too plain and boring. This is definitely better than Puma's recent options and we will be keeping an eye out for a price drop on this one.


Colombia away

This is the final Adidas shirt we promise. In all honesty though this is possibly our favourite shirt out of all the Adidas ones in this post as that galaxy/cosmic print really stands out and catches your eye. The colours of this print is absolutely brilliant and the yellow badge and stripes just stand out nicely without spoiling the shirts overall purple & blue galaxy design. Nice and simple with the print blending in but catches your eye for all the right reasons.


France Home

The blue on this France shirt is a bit different to the usual blue you expect as it is a lot lighter in colour but we love it due to it being that little bit different simply down to the colour. We ended up purchasing the France home shirt from the Euro's and that had a print worked into the design that definitely stood out where as this one is a lot more subtle in it's design. The light blue works really well on this simple template which a few teams will be wear just in different colours. We will definitely be looking to add this one to our collection too as you can't beat a good France shirt, past or present.

These shirts are by far the favourites this time around and these nations are definitely going to look great on the pitch and let's hope their performance matches up to that. If the cost of these shirts wasn't as ridiculous as it currently is I would very happily buy every single one off this list but I am definitely going to have to try narrow it down to just a few purchases and it is pretty difficult to just pick a few of these to purchase as they are all great in their own ways. Keep an eye on social media to see which shirts we end up purchasing, if we end up getting any at all...

Don't forget the World Cup content is well underway here at Edge of the Area and there are even more posts coming this weekend and into next week which are all about the players to keep an eye on throughout the tournament.

at No comments
Labels: ,

I think I bought a few too many football shirts in 2022...

I can't seem to stop buying football shirts and in 2022 I bought a lot more shirts than I usual would, there were a few shirts purchased in support of the men's game however, my main priority for 2022 was definitely shirts in support of the women's game. I ended up with 16 new shirts throughout the year some purchased by myself but a few were actually gifts from Liam who seems to be totally on board with my love for football shirts these days. So here are the shirts I added to my collection in 2022...


I started the year with my first Manchester United shirt in a few years, I think my United shirt before this was back in 2018/19. I knew when Ronaldo came back to the club I wanted the shirt with his name on the back, although now I am a bit disappointed by my choice but that is something to talk about in another post. I actually really like how simple this shirt is and I am glad I actually made the purchase after delaying it into 2022.


During the Euro's I said if England won I would get the club shirt of the winning goal scorer's name on the back which got a lot of laughs as it could literally have been anyone and it could have been a shirt of a club I really don't like (Chelsea is the only one I really wouldn't have wanted). Luckily for me though it was one of my favourite Man City players who got the winner and Liam ended up getting me the Man City away shirt I wanted with her name on the back of it. This was my first Puma Man City shirt however, I am a bit annoyed as the stitching is starting to become undone and for the price that really shouldn't be happening.


Liam also got me a Man City home shirt for my birthday and this time he opted for my favourite current Man City player's name on the back... Lauren Hemp. Lauren Hemp really stood out to me in 2022 and she very quickly became a player I always kept an eye on and followed closely, to say she is so young she is such a good player and out of all the City players it had to be her name on the back of my shirt.


Any other time I would avoid goalkeeper shirts as I have never been a fan of them however, I had to get this Mary Earps one (now the nephew wants matching too as she is his favourite player). I mainly got this as we got a Man Utd season ticket and Earps was a stand out player from the Euros for me, I was never bothered about 'keepers in the past but she really has changed my mind about that plus this is a pretty good looking shirt.


As soon as it was announced I knew I wanted the Man Utd home shirt as it has a collar and we all know I love a good collar on a football shirt. One of my favourite female players has to be Lucy Staniforth, she is such an under rated player who can control a game really well. Once we started going to the United games I knew I needed a shirt with her name on so I made it into a reward for my weight loss journey, when I needed a smaller shirt I was allowed to buy a Staniforth one which as you can see worked well for me as I managed to get it in 2022.


When United were playing at Old Trafford I made sure we got to the stadium early enough to go buy a new shirt and get it printed as there was one specific one I had wanted for a while. Leah Galton is one of those players that for many slips under the radar however, I have been a big fan since her days in the NWSL and now with us going to the United games I though it was time to get one of the best under rated players in the league's name on the back of the shirt. Plus this seasons United away shirt looks so nice and simple so I wanted it in my collection.


I never thought I would own an Arsenal shirt but they are one of the teams I have followed closely this past season or so as two of my top 5 WSL players are a part of the team... Jordan Nobbs and Leah Williamson. Liam purchased this seasons Arsenal shirt for Christmas with Williamson on the back and I am really pleased with having a Williamson shirt in my collection at last. I can honestly say this isn't going to be the only Arsenal shirt in my collection.


Bradford City changed their shirt supplier this season and with us having season tickets still it was time to get a new shirt for the season. The second this home shirt was announced I knew it was going to be purchased as it has a collar and I love the BCAFC detail on the back of the shirt. My only issue with this one is that it is on the tight side due to the manufacturer sizing, it is my favourite home shirt in a while though.


Liam treated me to the away shirt for City too and although a lot of fans aren't keen on this shirt I actually love it. Granted it does look like a Newcastle shirt but it is different to what we are used to and I think that Macron has pulled off a great design with it. The fit is a bit more forgiving than the home shirt too. Now I just need to purchase the 3rd shirt in 2023.


For far too long now I have wanted an Orlando City shirt but haven't managed to find one however, that changed in July 2022. Before the Euro final we headed to the outlets at Wembley and I more or less sprinted to see if they had this in my size. Luckily they did and for £35 I finally had an Orlando City shirt, this is one of my favourites of theirs in recent years too so I am really glad I finally have it in my collection.


Liam started getting some mystery shirt boxes in 2022 and he got me one as a surprise. To be honest I think he was a bit jealous of the one I got though as his wasn't as rare as this one. I ended up with a Strongest FC shirt, a team I had never heard of but the shirt looks amazing and I am sure I will be wearing this a lot. I think in 2023 we will be getting a few more of these mystery boxes so keep an eye on our social media to see if we do buy a few more or not.


As some of you will be aware I do a bit of writing for Since 71 alongside writing for my own website. When they said they were bringing out this Southampton Women's shirt with Kit & Bone I knew I was going to purchase one to support all those involved. I love how simple this shirt is and it is a nice little addition to the collection and a shirt I probably would never have purchased in the past.


If you followed my content throughout the Euro's you will know I had a soft spot for Sweden, I had my nails in their colours and I saw them play 3 times overall. Going into the tournament I said I would be supporting them as long as they weren't playing England so when we went to our first Sweden game I decided to get the shirt. In the build up to the tournament I had this shirt in my basket on the Adidas site but never bought it so once we arrived at Bramall Lane I went straight over to purchase it. The shirt is so simple yet looks great.


We were lucky enough to have tickets to the France vs Netherlands game in the Euros and a few days before the game me and Liam said we would get the France shirt if they had it. This shirt was one we both wanted as the design is absolutely fantastic and a stand out without being too in your face. Looking back we actually got a lot of Euro shirts as Liam also got the Netherlands one, we should really have tried getting one for each team we watched live.


Finally two of my favourites of the year, I got laughed at before the Euros as I got both England shirts but they came in handy when Liam wanted to borrow one for the semi final and final as he didn't bother getting one of his own. The orange one is definitely my favourite as it is such a standout shirt but the white one looks amazing with the pattern worked into the shirt. With England winning the Euros I think owning both these shirts just makes it feel that bit more special and they will be staying in my collection forever as they hold so many memories.

So there you go 2022 involved adding 16 new football shirts into the collection and they are all shirts I had my eye on for a while or some great surprises like that Strongest FC one from the Mystery box. If I managed to get 16 new shirts in what I thought was a slow year in terms of football purchases I wonder how many I will pick up in 2023? There are already a few shirts I am looking at picking up then add in the upcoming Women's World Cup, I wonder if we will top those 16 shirts?

What was your favourite football shirt purchase in 2022?

at No comments
Labels:

The Since 71 x Southampton Women's FC X Kit & Bone Shirt Collaboration...

Photo : John Bilcliff

If you have read the blog for a while now you will know I am a sucker for a good football shirt, so when Since 71 let me know about the shirt they released of course I had to take a look for myself. I aren't usually a fan of white shirts but I love how this one has been designed as it looks nice and simple and thanks to the club badge being the only bit of colour on the shirt it really does draw attention to the heart of the club rather than sponsorship or kit manufacturer. 

This shirt is in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Southampton Women's Football Club's victory in the inaugural Women's FA Cup back in 1971.  For the celebration Since 71 have teamed up with the club and the fantastic Kit & Bone to launch a limited edition football shirt which includes the clubs newly designed crest. Since 71 have been a great source for women's football for years now and I think what they have done with this shirt is absolutely brilliant especially with the inspiration of the sites name coming from that ban on women's football being lifted back in 1971. 

Photo : John Bilcliff

Back in the inaugrual Women's FA Cup in 1970-71 seventy one teams set out to compete and on the 9th May 1971 Southampton Women came away 4-1 winners of the competition. I just think it is very fitting that Since 71 have taken part in this project with the 71 being prominent on shirt just as a little bit of a reminder to everyone of the year that the ban was lifted and the FA Cup was first won. 

The club itself were happy to be heavily involved in the project as they wanted to celebrate the first Women's FA Cup final and also share the proud history of the club. Plus what I love the most is that any profits from the sales are going to be used to invest back into helping females play football within the Hampshire, something that every area needs investment in and fingers crossed they can do some great work with the profits as I am sure it will be beneficial to many clubs and help get more females involved in the beautiful game. 

Photo : Dave Bodymore


The club actually wore the shirt during their National League game vs AFC Bournemouth and it looks absolutely fantastic and really does showcase that newly designed crest and has it catching your eye as all other details are worked into the white shirt well, it definitely gives off a retro vibe and it is something I wish more clubs would try. They actually wore this shirt for this particular game though as it was the same day as the postponed 2020/21 final between Arsenal and Chelsea which was actually the 50th final in the competition which goes to show how the game has come a long way since the ban was lifted but there is definitely a long way to go. 

I have followed Kit & Bone on Twitter since before this blog even got up and running so to see them get involve in the project and helping out the women's game is absolutely brilliant and to me just goes to show more and more companies want to take part in helping the women's game develop whilst also telling a story. Kit & Bone have done great with this shirt and I am excited to see what future projects for the women's game they take on in the future as they have never disappointed me. 

I know I will be adding this to my shirt collection as not only is it a brilliant shirt but with the profits going to such a good cause this is a shirt too good to miss out on. If you want to pick up the shirt for yourself you can get it from since-71.com/shop and don't forget to use discount code DAVIES9 when ordering. 

Whilst you are at it don't forget to give Since 71 a follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and check out their website. 
You can also find out more about Southampton women via their website, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. 
Finally if you like football shirts be sure to check out Kit & Bone on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and their website. 

Let me know if you want a full review of the shirt when I receive mine. 

Photo : John Bilcliff
at No comments
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)