Nike have unveiled their first England kit after the Football Association announced a new partnership with the American apparel manufacturer last year in September.
The first official sighting of this shirt was a tweet by Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere of a pupil at his former school wearing the jersey. Through the picture, Nike aims to demonstrate that the kit belongs to the nation and not just the players who represent England.
Like this kid, my England dream began here, so he was first in #theshirt – England’s new kit from @nikefootball twitter.com/JackWilshere/s…
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) May 20, 2013
Wilshere watched a training session at The Priory School in Hertfordshire, before picking out lucky student Jason Kelly to wear and reveal the shirt for the first time. Wilshere said:
“This is where my dream of playing for England started and it’s great to be back here to see a new generation playing with the same passion.
“I gave Jason the shirt because his commitment and work-rate really impressed me today, he showed that it’s what you do on the pitch that matters – from your first match as a nine year-old all the way up to the international stage.”
Nike have gone for a basic yet distinctive design that take the kit back to its roots with its traditional colors of white and dark blue to celebrate the FA’s 150th anniversary. Because of the fact that the shirt is so simple, the Three Lions’ crest looks prominently featured.
Moreover, the crest now has a gold-border, a gold star above it signifying England’s 1966 World Cup win, and a gold ribbon graphic below inscribed with ‘150 years’ and the years 1863 and 2013, marking FA’s anniversary.
The Nike logo and the collar of the shirt are in dark blue – the same colour as the crest. The inside of the shirt’s collar features a red strip. The two side vents on the hem of the shirt subtly feature the St. George’s cross. The shorts are entirely dark blue and the socks are white with a thin dark blue band at the top.
The kit embodies Nike’s belief in style, craft and pride while aiding the performance of players with key technological features. The England kit is made from recycled polyester. In the pioneering process, used plastic bottles are chopped and melted reducing energy consumption by up to 30%.
The kit weighs just 150 grams and boasts a 20% stronger knit structure and significantly improved stretch. The fabric uses Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body to keep players cool and dry. Tint laser-cut holes under the arms on both sides serve as ventilation zones. A mesh panel across the back increases air circulation.
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