2020/21 RB Leipzig Away Shirt Closer Look

 

If you know me you will know just how much I love playing video games in my free time, as rare as that is these days and my favourite game to just sit and relax with is FIFA. In the past few years I have really got into playing FIFA Ultimate Team and during each cycle of the game I tend to stick with just 2 shirts for the club I create and for FIFA 21 one of those shirts just so happened to be the RB Leipzig away shirt for the season and due to how often I actually saw this shirt I fell in love with it and surprise, surprise I even ended up purchasing it when it came to the end of the season sale. 


Obviously I had only actually seen this game on the TV screen whilst I was playing Ultimate Team or when I went on the Nike site to actually purchase it so I wasn't quite sure what to expect colour wise but it is safe to say when it turned up and I saw it in person for the first time it really didn't disappoint. The blue of the shirt is really vibrant and is a bit bolder when compared to some of the other blue shirts I currently own which honestly I don't mind as I think it is nicer than some of the other blue shirts in my collection. The blue works really well with the vibrant orange and yellow on the shirt too and thanks to it being nice and simple it gives the opportunity for the sponsor and club badge to take center stage. 

If you have read any of my shirt posts before you will know that I aren't really a fan of sponsors being a big focus on the shirt but for some reason with this RB Leipzig shirt I really don't mind that Red Bull logo in the middle of the shirt and with the club being 'RB' Leipzig I don't think it looks out of place at all. Plus that yellow really really well on the blue. The orange neck just breaks the shirt up a bit too and adds another colour to this shirt without spoiling it in my opinion as it fits with the side panel detail. 


The yellow of the clubs badge on this shirt is definitely more vibrant than the sponsor which to me just makes it stand out that bit more to my eyes which is great as it means the badge might be smaller than the sponsor but it definitely still catches your eye and gets the attention it should be doing. I think a lot of clubs are starting to drowned out the club badge with some shirt designs but this one is perfect. 


Just like with the PSG shirt the sleeves on the RB Leipzig are also made from a recycled material and the textured detail on the sleeves seems to be the way that Nike were highlighting that. The sleeves on this one did feel a bit tight but I don't think that was anything to do with the texturing I think it was more to me sizing down from my normal size but thanks to the quality of the material the shirt still fit perfectly and even after numerous washes the colour is still intact and the fit is still as it was on the first wear. 


Just like with the PSG away shirt it also took me a while to spot the hidden detail on the side panels. The orange side panel is in a zig zag pattern with other patterns in the design with a bit of a hidden RBL inside it. I love how these panels match the collar in the colour and the fact that these aren't yellow like the badge & sponsor doesn't actually matter as it all seems to flow nicely and doesn't spoil the design overall. The orange just adds to making this shirt more vibrant than it already is which is great. 

I am really glad that I fell in love with this shirt whilst playing FIFA 21 as it is a very welcomed addition to my shirt collection, who knows it might lead me to purchase more RB Leipzig shirts in the future and it could also be a new tradition of buying the shirts I use on FIFA if I love them enough, if that is the case it is safe to say I am in for a treat with the kits I am wearing in FIFA 22. 

What do you think to last seasons RB Leipzig away shirt? Were you a fan? 
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2020/21 PSG Away Shirt Closer Look


PSG are one of those teams I have always looked at and honestly it hasn't always been for the football they play, these days it is actually for the shirts they are wearing each season. I honestly believe lately they are becoming a bit more of a fashion focused brand alongside being a football team as the shirts they are releasing each season are brilliant. Their collaborations with Jordan have been brilliant lately and I really want to build up my PSG shirt collection. At the end of the 2020/21 season I finally bit the bullet and added my first PSG shirt to my collection as there was now way I was missing out on the seasons away shirt, it was one I had my eye on for a while so I waited for the end of season sale and finally made the purchase. 


I absolutely loved this shirt from the minute I saw it and honestly there was no way I wasn't picking it up. One thing I love about PSG is how the red, white and blue colours we always associate with the club work so well together and keep with the French clubs colours. I love how with this away shit the white is the main colour with the red running all the way down the center of the shirt only being broken up by the sponsor in the center. The blue to the side of the red block stripe also just keeps in with the clubs colours and flows nicely with the collar detail on the shirt too. 

I also really like how the Nike logo and club badge are also towards the center of the shirt rather than being towards either side of the chest. With them being slightly off center and following the light blue stripes alongside the bold red stripe, with them being just under the collar too I think it actually looks quite smart. 


What really sold me on this shirt was the blue collar and few red buttons on the chest. I absolutely love a shirt with a collar and this one ticks all the boxes. I think this shirt is a bit more fashionable than some of the other shirts from other clubs we have seen in recent years. It is shirts like this from PSG than make them seem like a fashion brand than a football club to me as the shirt just looks fantastic and really smart. The collar is a nice smart fit too when buttoned up and hasn't flicked up yet like some collars I have had on past shirts or even polo shirts. I love how the blue of the collar works well with the bold red too as it is a nice and bold blue and not just some random colour thrown in for the sake of it. 


This shirt is made out of recycled material too which is an added bonus and I love how Nike seem to be moving into this area a bit more with their clothing and shoes. The recycled material is highlighted in the sleeves with this shirt with them being a bit of a textured effect. This is quite a subtle effect on the shirt and to be honest I am glad as it is noticeable however, it doesn't stand out too much, meaning the main focus is still on the bold colours on the front of the shirt. The sponsor on the sleeve doesn't bother me as much as it usually would either as the colour is in keeping with the rest of the shirt and the shirt as a whole isn't absolutely over run with branding, it is quite subtle and doesn't ruin the look of the shirt. 


 There is a bit more subtle detailing on the shirt that I didn't notice until I actually had the shirt in my hands. Most shirts just have some plain side paneling either in a different colour to the shirt or as a mesh however, this one flows with the colour of the rest of shirt and has the clubs full name throughout the panel which I think is a really nice touch. Again this is very subtle so doesn't distract from the rest of the shirt but when you do notice it you can appreciate its addition. 

I am really glad I actually convinced myself to get this shirt as I think it was the perfect one to kick off my PSG shirt collection especially with it having one of my favourite things... a collar. I have worn this a lot of times now and the quality is great, the colour is still perfect and it fits really nicely. I tend to wear this for general day to day wear rather than training as it just seems too nice to run around a field or gym in. I wonder what my next PSG shirt will be? I can honestly say I already have my eyes on a few previous ones and a few of this seasons. 
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Match Report : Bradford City Women Bow Out Of The FAWNL Plate After Penalty Defeat

 

Bradford City Women unfortunately bowed out of the FAWNL Plate competition with a penalty defeat again Midlands team Boldmere St Michaels Women. City actually came back from being behind twice, once in normal time and then again in extra time just showing how much of a fight they were going to put up to try progress to the next round of the competition, they unfortunately fell just short though with the game ending 2-4 on penalties in favour of the Boldmere St Michaels. 

City started the game well with them actually having the first the first chance of the game which unfortunately found its way over the cross bar. From then on the game was pretty end to end with both teams having some good possession but just unable to break the deadlock with shots either going wide or over the bar.  City did make some very promising looking runs forward with the ball in the first half and the right hand side was looking very strong with Stuart, Roberts and Hawkins all linking up really well to get City into so good positions. 

Unfortunately for City though it was Boldmere who broke the deadlock with a goal that you could say was against the run of play, a nice ball through saw them able to lob the ball over Richards who managed to get a hand to it but it just wasn't enough and the ball ended up in the back of the net. City tried to respond almost immediately with Norde having a long range effort but that ended up going over the bar too. Boldmere really seemed to pick up tempo after their goal but City still didn't give up and kept trying to break Boldmere down. It was Boldmere who got the second goal of the game though with them capitalizing on the windy conditions, the corner was swung in and with the held from the wind it beat everyone and ended up in the back of the net. 


It looked like the game was going to be 0-2 going into half time but once again City didn't give up and kept on pushing which paid off just before half time when City had a chance on goal which was originally saved by Boldmere but thanks to City pressing they were unable to clear their lines and the ball eventually landed with Stube who was able to slot the ball into the back of the net meaning City went into half time trailing 1-2 rather than being 2 goals behind. 

The second half started really well for City with the continuing to search for the equaliser and they were once again creating some good chances but were just unable to convert them into goals. It was in the second half when frustrations really started to show not just from those on the pitch but those in the dugouts too as some terrible refereeing decisions were made and some very questionable calls were given. Boldmere ended up winning a penalty which luckily for City they were unable to convert and the ball rattled the cross bar before being cleared away from danger. 


Frustrations started to boil over properly after the the penalty decision with both sides clearly getting worked up, after a run of questionable calls City's Roberts found herself in the sin bin for 10 minutes so City were down to 10 players on the field. It didn't stop City though who kept on fighting and pushing to find that equaliser and that eventually came when Roberts came back onto the pitch. City won a free kick in a dangerous position and Roberts stepped up to fire it into the back of the net, the rest of normal time City were pushing for the winner and looked like they could have possibly got one but unfortunately time ran out and the game entered a period of 30 minutes extra time with normal time ending 2-2. 


It didn't take long for Boldmere to take the lead once again with the wind on their side yet another long range effort found its way over Richards and into the back of the net. Once again City were behind but not looking like they were ever going to give up. City did end up down to 10 for the remainder of the extra time with Jakeman sent off for a second yellow card offence which in all honest was very questionable seen as she got her first yellow for what seemed like simply coming on as a substitute. There was just so much confusion created the whole game from the referee and the lack of consistency in calls and to be honest it did spoil the game a bit especially with players going on to yellow cards for the most ridiculous calls. Even though City were down to 10 they didn't give up and kept pushing for that equaliser once again which eventually came when City were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box. Stuart stepped up to take the penalty and City were once again level and neither team could find that extra goal to stop the game going to penalties. The game finished 3-3 after extra time. 

Unfortunately even though City scored their 1st and 4th penalties they were just outdone by Boldmere who picked up after missing their 2nd penalty and went on to with the game 2-4 on penalties to progress into the next round of the FAWNL Plate competition. City can definitely hold their heads high from this game though as they showed that they can fight back and get themselves back into the game and not give up even when calls are going against them for the most ridiculous reasons. 



As for player of the match it was actually really hard to pick this time around as each player played well for various reasons, Hawkins made some fantastic runs and never gave up and Stuart played very well in defence linking up really well with Roberts and Hawkins to get City into some good positions. Roberts just beat the rest of them though to be our player of the match as she played some great balls into some dangerous areas and got forward to create chances plus she never looked like giving up even after the time in the sin bin, she came back on scored the free kick and defended really well to stop Boldmere on some dangerous looking attacks. Roberts is definitely a stand out player to us so far this season and we are really enjoying watching her play every week.

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Favourite Home Shirts From Other League In The UK & Around The World


So for this seasons favourite kits posts I have so far done the Premier League, League 2 and the big clubs in Europe so today I thought I would share my favourite shirts from teams in totally different leagues, these shirts are from teams outside the EFL and even one team from overseas. Lower level clubs often get forgot about yet some produce some brilliant kits year in year out, some stand out from the crowd with bold prints and others try to keep it simple & classic. It definitely was a struggle to narrow down this post but here is who made the cut... 


Halifax Town 

A local time I often forget about is Halifax Town however, since starting Edge of the Area I have actually taken a lot more interest in the local club and have even started checking their results & standings regularly. I have also been paying much closer attention to the kits they release and I am loving this seasons home shirt. The blue is the main colour of the club and the camo detailing on the shoulders underneath the the Adidas 3 stripes and the side paneling looks fantastic. The sponsor on the shirt looks great too and fits the colours of the shirt really well. I just wish Halifax shirts were a bit easier to get as they always seem to be out of stock, fingers crossed we can get our hands on a shirt at some point and also get to a game. 

Hashtag United 

I have actually followed Hashtag for a while as I have followed chairman Spencer Owen on Youtube for a long time and love watching the 2017 EE Wembley Cup. It has been great to see the progress the club has made over the years and them announcing that Hummel were going to be creating their shirts just showed the club is really going places as a semi professional club, I wouldn't be surprised if in the future they arrived in the EFL. This seasons Hummel shirt is brilliant with the blue and yellow working really well together and the black design on the shirt looking a bit like the goals netting, it is a nice and subtle design addition without it being far too in your face. Hummel have released some fantastic shirts this season and this Hashtag one is no exception, lets hope we can get our hands on one. 

 
Photo Credit Danny Neilson 

1874 Northwich FC 

I actrually found out about 1874 Northwich FC thanks to starting the Edge of the Area Twitter page and we have had plenty of interactions with the club on both Twitter & Instagram, plus with us following Coach Cain on Instagram (it took a while to realise he played at the club) we are never short of seeing 1874 Northwich on our feeds. They are a great club who play in the Northern Premier League Division One West and are based in Cheshire so not too far away from us. One thing I have loved seeing from 1874 Northwich is the merchandise they release for the club which all look great however, it is the home shirt that stands out the most to me. I love the green and black combination and how the bold black block stripe is used behind the badge so it really stands out. The pattern on the top half of the shirt also looks great as you can see it but it doesn't stand out too much and over power the shirt. I would love to get my hands on one of these shirts for a closer look. 



Brisbane Roar 

The A League in Australia is a league that I am really hit and miss with if I am honest with you and since the pandemic I haven't really bothered with it at all but I think that is bound to change when this season begins. As the build up to the season begun I started to take a look at the shirts which each team would be wearing and the one that stood out to me the most was the Brisbane Roar shirt. I love the orange colour of the shirt with the black detailing on the sides instead of being all over the shirt, which to be honest could have also looked good but this way it just makes badge speak for itself in my opinion and the central New Balance logo even looks in the perfect place. If anyone knows how to get one of these shirts for a reasonable price in the UK please let me know as I would love to get my hands on one. 


Brighouse Town 

Another local club who I should go watch if Bradford aren't at home, as the stadium is not far from my home. I never really took any notice of Brighouse in the past however, thanks to the interactions we have had with the women's team we have also started to take note of the men's team and one thing that stood out this season was their home shirt. You all know I love a shirt with a collar but I also love an orange shirt which has been noted in recent year so this shirt ticks all the boxes. I love the subtle geometric design on this shirt too and it is that subtle from images it actually took me a while to notice it. Again this is another shirt I would love to get my hands on for a closer look at and fingers crossed we can get to some Brighouse games in the future.  

I am really hoping to get my hands on a few shirts from this post as not only are they great shirts but the purchase will also help those clubs that will have struggled more than others in the pandemic. Those smaller clubs often get passed by but even if we just bought a shirt that we liked from them it is still better than nothing, plus I am hoping to get to some of the teams more local to me to watch a game so it would be nice to own the shirt to go in. 

Do you like any of the shirts from this list? Are there any that you would add? 

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The Euro 2022 Draw Has Finally Taken Place



Finally we have found out how the groups are going to look for the upcoming Women's Euro 2022 competition being held in England next year. There will be 16 teams playing in 31 match across the 9 host cities for the competition. What I am impressed with is how the North of the country is hosting plenty of games throughout the tournament, I honestly thought that 90% of the games would have been down south but they have really made it so the competition is accessible to everyone. 

The women's game is growing here in the UK and I think that this competition is only going to help it grow and hopefully inspire a whole new generation of players for the future. With ticket sales already exceeding expectations before the groups were even announced it is safe to say that there is plenty of interest in the tournament and we could be expecting huge crowds at each game which is hopefully going to be full of kids and adults alike who could be witnessing their first international women's game, so who knows just how the growth of the women's game is going to go after the competition, fingers crossed it just grows and grows. With the men's world cup being pushed to the end of the year the summer of 2022 is really the chance for the women's game to take center stage and shine, all eyes will hopefully be on this competition and if the media plays it right I think there could easily be a record number of viewers. 

For me the Euros are a tougher competition in the women's game than the World Cup as it is a much more level playing field. The competition is a whole lot tighter and groups don't have clear cut winners meaning every game is going to be an interesting one and anyone could walk away group winners and I think we could see a few upsets along the way. So here is how the groups are looking...

Group A 

England 

Austria 

Norway 

Northern Ireland

I am really looking forward to this group and we will be at the opening game of England vs Austria. I think the best game of the group though will be England vs Northern Ireland, which is the closing game of the group. I think this group is going to be an interesting one with all to play for. 

Group B 

Germany 

Denmark 

Spain 

Finland 

Group B is bound to be a good one with some fantastic players taking center stage. Spain did well in the 2019 World Cup so I am really looking forward to see how they do against the rest of this group. I think this could be a group that goes down to the final game but I know it is going to be a group I keep a very close eye on. 

Group C

Netherlands 

Sweden 

Russia 

Switzerland

Now group C is another group I am going to be keeping a very close eye on and hopefully we are going to get tickets to the group opener for this one. The Netherlands are the defending champions and it is going to be interesting to see how they do in their first competition under a new manager. It is going to be interesting to see how Sweden do as they just seem to be going from strength to strength. 

Group D 

France 

Italy 

Belgium 

Iceland

The final group is going to be an interesting one with France in there however, I think in recent years they have declined a bit as other teams have caught them up. I think Belgium could easily be a dark horse in this group and the ones to watch, I think they have the potential to create a few upsets in the competition. I think this is one of the groups I am most looking forward to. 

Nearer the competition starting I will be doing a full group stage prediction post, but today's post was just a quick look at how the draw went. Over the course of 2022 and as the tournament progresses there will be a whole lot more Euro 2022 content on the blog and on our social media. 

We have our tickets for the big games and we are hoping to get to another group stage game too and it is safe to say we are really looking forward to this tournament and seeing how it progresses. I think us fans are really going to be in for a treat. 

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