How can I tell if a "match worn shirt" is genuine?

[Jah]

I just had an offer accepted on this

(removed link cos it doesnt work It is a chris cohen shirt from 2013/2014)

I thought it was a bit mad that it was so cheap, given the popularity of the player, you can get a Robbie Findley shirt for 55 quid, or a Lee camp one for 75.

How can you tell if this is a genuine player shirt rather than a replica? The company seems to have been selling a lot of shirts, and a few match worn ones.

 

[Matt]

Signatures usually come with a certificate of authenticity. Is there similar?

 

[Jah]

Its not signed (yet! )

I was assuming that the match kits are not the same as the ones bought from the forest shop.

 

[Barry]

If its a match worn shirt from the last 20 years, if it smells of failure its genuine

 

[Strummer]

Its not signed (yet! )

I was assuming that the match kits are not the same as the ones bought from the forest shop.

No they aren’t - they look similar (of course) but the branding/labels is different inside the shirt and if it’s match-worn, it’ll smell.

 

[LostThatLovingFeeling]

I find these sort of purchases quite creepy.

 

[Captain Sinister]

And what does "match worn" really mean?
If I bought myself a replica and wore it in a game I could honestly sell as match worn.
And I can assure you, it would smell!

 

[incapable hulk]

Has it got grass stains on it?

 

[Barnfather]

I'd expect it to possibly have league badges on the sleeve, which are not routine on replica shirts. Beyond that, and any certificate of authenticity I'm not sure how you could tell it apart

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

Has it got grass stains on it?

Just skidmarks

 

[donny]

This one is definitely matchworn, from a 3-2 win against Bristol City in 2009.

 

[incapable hulk]

Just skidmarks

To be fair, with the lack of effort many of our players have put in over the last two decades, their match worn shirts are probably pristine. I imagine Andy Cole's still have the tags attached...

 

[donny]

To be fair, with the lack of effort many of our players have put in over the last two decades, their match worn shirts are probably pristine. I imagine Andy Cole's still have the tags attached...

Andy Coles is still on the coathanger. Which, to be honest, explains the running style he employed.

 

[Strummer]

This one is definitely matchworn, from a 3-2 win against Bristol City in 2009.

Yep, because those had the extra sponsor logo above the players‘ name, whereas the replicas did not.

 

[Jah]

I find these sort of purchases quite creepy.

I guess the only way to see if it is real is to clone the DNA. Just think... a Chris Cohen of my very own to dress up however I want!

 

[Barry]

I guess the only way to see if it is real is to clone the DNA. Just think... a Chris Cohen of my very own to dress up however I want!

You'd need glue to keep sticking him back together as he dropped to bits in front of your eyes.

 

[Mercury]

I guess the only way to see if it is real is to clone the DNA. Just think... a Chris Cohen of my very own to dress up however I want!

But you’d be obliged to Cup his balls on demand.

 

[The Maniacal Megatron]

Shirts from the late 90s/early 00s have larger numbers and letters compared to the replica versions. The sleeve patches also have their differences.

Once you start to get to the mid-00s shirts, the only differences were the sponsors on the back of the shirts. You normally wouldn't get them on replicas.

This isn't really much help to yourself but its what I remember when I used to collect football shirts.

 

[puds1970]

If you can smell sweat you know it’s fake.