THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK

Brian Deane scored the first goal in the FA Premier League for Sheffield United against Manchester United after 5 minutes on 15 August 1992. In the same game he scored a second after 50 minutes from the penalty spot as Sheffield United went on to win 2–1.

https://www.premierleague.com/video/single/1496766

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTIErIcpY2s

Former Blades striker Brian Deane has been reunited with the Sheffield United shirt he wore when he scored the first ever Premier League goal. Deane was playing up front for Sheffield United, when he scored against Manchester United on August 15, 1992, the first goal of the first day of the new season. It was the first season after the old First Division was dissolved and the Premier League began, which made Deane's goal the first ever in the Premier League. He scored a penalty later in the same game. Sheffield United went on to win the match 2-1, but Deane said since that he did not realise the significant at the time, which is presumably how he came to lose possession of the historic shirt. Yesterday however the 53-year-old tweeted two photographs of himself holding up the important number 10 shirt, showing the front and back. Above the photograph he commented: "After 30 years I was reunited with this shirt. The one I scored the first ever Premier League goal in. "It was way more emotional than I thought it would be and I still have huge feelings around the shirt. It’s a powerful thing." 

Deane gave away the iconic shirt after the game against the Red Devils, which the Blades won 2-1. Back in 2019, The Star spoke to the recipient, Unitedite Dave Walker. 

"I was a young lad at the time and we were quite close to [Deane],” Walker said. “Dad always got us a season ticket just by the dug-outs so, when the players were walking off at the end, Deano spotted him, asked where I was, and handed it over."It wasn't until we got back and watched Match of the Day on the telly that I found out [that Deane had scored the first Premier League goal]. "We knew getting the shirt was special because, before we even left the ground, about three different cameramen had offered a grand apiece for it. They clearly wanted it pretty badly. Now I know why."

The oldest football shirt in existence, worn by AK Smith. On November 30th 1872, the England Football team met Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in football's first ever international fixture, watched by an estimated 3,000 people. The score was a dull 0-0.

Players such as the Sheffield Club's, Arnold Kirke Smith, turned out in these heavy woollen jerseys in the goalless stalemate. The oldest surviving jersey of its kind... i.e. the oldest football shirt in existence, The 1872 England shirt is on display at @thenationalfootballmuseum and of course the cap that they wore when they played. 

By the way a late replacement player for England, was A. Kirke Smith, in his final year at Oxford University, who was brought into the team at the last moment when several England players were carrying injuries. The captain should have been Charles Alcock (a very important figure in the English game) but he had played in the annual Old boys of Eton College v Harrow School match and it was so vigorous that several players didn't make it through the match safely! Alcock did manage to get another cap for England in 1875, following a period of lengthy recuperation!

The first manufacturer of sports' wear in the UK was Bukta, established in 1879. When Darwen, a team of cotton mill workers, from Lancashire, met the Old Etonians in the FA Cup semi-final of 1879, two worlds collided! The story of this game is portrayed in the film "The English Game" on Netflix.

Here are some more oldies:https://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/oldest-football-shirts.php,

The match between Darwen and the OEs has a long story attached to it.....well worth watching "The English Game" or perhaps waiting for blog!

eane gave away the iconic shirt after the game against the Red Devils, which the Blades won 2-1. Back in 2019, The Star spoke to the recipient, Unitedite Dave Walker.