All Around The World (Lisa Stansfield hit song back in late 80's)

That seems to be theme song playing in my head as I decided to launch my latest project, which is to collect as many as possible, national team shirts from each of the countries from Planet Earth. At last count, I am only quarter of the way there, with about 67 countries covered. Long way to go, compared to the other collectors who have started this trend of collecting shirts from all over the world. Names such as Nick Warrick, Enrique Solorio etc are the stalwarts in this area. My respect & salute to them. Do check out their impressive collection!

As for my own collection, here they are in alphabetical order ....

Algeria
Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium
Bosnia Herzegovina

Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Cameroun

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia
Costa Rica

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador

England
Faroe Islands

France

Germany

Greece

Guinea
Holland

Honduras

Indonesia
Iran

Ireland Republic

Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan

Korea
Laos
Latvia

Lithuania

Malaysia

Mexico

Morocco

Myanmar

Nigeria

Norway

Paraguay

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Scotland

Singapore
Slovenia

South Africa

Spain
Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

USA

Venezuela

Vietnam

Wales

Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S) (temporary)

Yugoslavia (now defunct)

Didnt get to watch a match at the stadium while in Istanbul, but did buy a Besiktas shirt on sale at the club shop. What can I say? Istanbul. Amazing city.

My do-it-yourself Pakistan kit ...not bad huh

Pakisan vs Malaysia (0-2, after 1st leg) ....

All the best to our boys as they seek to emulate the team of 1980, who qualified to the Moscow Olympics, but had to go on a world tour instead, sent by the government ....

One step at a time >>> Lets overcome the Pakistan team, and then concentrate on the next match ... one thing for sure, the Harimau Malaya fans will be there at the stadium cheering for u!

Tradition Continues ...

Every October 5th is my birthday. Since I was 28 (I think) I have been getting a shirt printed with corresponding age number ... :) It's 41 this year, hence, this white Adidias plain shirt, good for futsal perhaps, with the word 'Libra' in front (go figure...)

Thank you Allah for this life ...

Manchester City (1997/98) home shirt - first by Kappa for them.

I remember this was the 1st Kappa shirt I went ga-ga about ...

Bought dirt cheap at a old-stock apparel shop somewhere in Seri Kembangan (KL's outskirt)

Pearl of the Orient ! Penang FA's official shirts by Joma.

Home : stripes light blue & white

Away : Blackpool's tangerine!

Bought from Joma's shop in KL

If Cameron Highlands has a football team, this could be their home & away jerseys :)

Found the 2 shirts (with Cameron Highlands embroidery) at a souvenir shop in Tanah Rata, one of the main towns there. Made by unknown Vono Sport.I had the jerseys printed with Cameron Highlands on the chest and numbers/names at the back. Thompson is a tribute to Jim Thompson, the American businessman who revitalized Thai silk & textiles industry in the 50s & 60s. He mysteriously disappeared while talking a walk in Cameron Highlands on March 26th, 1967. Russell is a tribute to J.A.Russell, the British businessman who founded the world-famous Boh Tea plantation there. The plantation is a must-visit if you go to Cameron Highlands.

So, can we have a Cameron Highlands FC? Gonna ask the folks at the local town council there...

Long live 'The Temptations' ...
I may love The Temptations' music but I am not about to give in to one (er..temptation) when it comes to buying shirts these days...times are bad, so you have to be mindful when deciding to buy or not to buy..

It is then that I proudly announced that in my recent 2 weeks trip in UK, I only spend some of my British Sterling notes to buy 3 shirts.. They are :

1) England current away shirt by Umbro. A nice, clean red top, made in China and all. A real snip at GBP 4.49. That works out to about RM 24 in my country's currency. Now that's what I call a bargain. BTW, in Malaysia at the Studio R sports shop in Sunway Pyramid, this very shirt is tagged at RM 249.

2) Leeds United FC current home shirt featuring its main man, Jermaine Beckford's name & number. On sale at the club shop at GBP 20, I added the name & number for some additional Pounds. May we see Leeds in the premierships again someday. That's a nice statue of Leeds legend, Billy Bremner outside the club shop.

3) York City FC current home shirt by Nike. This is an actual shirt worn previously by its former player, Jimmy Beadle (now at Whitby Town FC). Note the signature on the number at the back. Infos came straight from the club shop's manager. Note of thanks to my Garmin sat-nav for guiding me to this club in the city of York, not far from Leeds.

Sheffield Wednesday home shirt from 1997. Nice collar work from Puma. Des Walker was one of the Owls' most loyal servant, played many times for England too. An all around hard working defender, that's Des!

Kop's 'God' white away shirt from 1998/99

The away shirt from the 98/99 season worn by the likes of Fowler, Owen, Matteo, Riedle etc. Number 9 is worn by of coz' probably the greatest living striker of the Reds squad...Robbie Fowler.

Simple V neck design from Reebok, and nice combination of Red & White to make this one of my faves of Liverpool's away shirts.

Some not-so-new shirts obtained recently :
1) Old Shimizu S Pulse shirt by Mizuno (crazy world map design!)
2) Cerezo Osaka shirt by Mizuno as well (must be the away shirt)
3) Glasgow Rangers away shirt by Umbro circa 2006
4) Udinese black away shirt by Lotto
5) Rep of Ireland home shirt by Umbro circa 2006/07

Happy New Year !!
Here's to more shirts (hopefully..)