England fans who don’t like the new colourful flag on the latest shirt can now buy an iron-on St George’s Cross to cover it up.
Nike announced it had modified the St George’s Cross, adding purple and blue horizontal stripes in a “playful update” when the stripe launched this week.
A petition with over 15,000 signatures has been created calling on Nike to restore the original design. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also spoken out in favour of not changing the flag, while opposition leader Keir Starmer has gone so far as to suggest recalling the entire kit.
As the controversy continues, a sports shop in Stourbridge in the West Midlands has announced that it has started selling traditional red and white St George’s Cross transfer sheets for £4.95 so fans can cover up the Nike version.
Sports shop director Grant Walters, 33, said: “I don’t think any national flag should be changed. We offer people a solution. And if it helps, we also raise money for charity. It’s more about solving a problem.”
However, Walters admitted he was a fan of the new design, adding: “It’s an interpretation of the colors of the 1966 track top. I appreciate good design.”
“I think the redesigned jerseys are brilliant – some of the best jerseys we’ve had for a long time. Obviously there’s a demand from people who prefer a traditional St George on the back.”
The transfers, priced at £4.95, are available in all sizes for any top size and Grant doesn’t charge postage for those bought online. One pound from every sale is donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The new @England 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒔 Celebrate the football heroes 🦸 of the past with a modern touch.
Made from 𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒍𝑻 𝑨𝑫𝑽 to breathe with you 😮💨 in the most important moments. #NikeFootball pic.twitter.com/G2CkgHp3v6
— Nike Football (@nikefootball) March 18, 2024
A tribute to the past
The English Football Association (FA) defended the new jersey design, saying it was “not the first time” that different-coloured designs inspired by the St George’s Cross had appeared on the England national team’s jerseys.
“The new England 2024 home kit features a number of design elements intended as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup-winning team,” a spokesman said.
“The coloured cuffs are inspired by the training kit worn by England’s heroes in 1966, and the same colours can be found on the design on the back of the collar. This is not the first time that different coloured St George’s Cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.
“We are very proud of the red and white St George’s Cross – the flag of England.
“We know what it means to our fans, how it unites and inspires, and it will be prominently displayed at Wembley tomorrow – as always – when England play Brazil.”
A Nike spokesperson added: “The 2024 England home kit breaks with history by modernising a classic.”
Some football experts and fans also criticized the price of the new England shirt and Starmer called on Nike to reduce the price.
An ‘authentic’ version costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children, while a ‘stadium’ version costs £84.99 and £64.99 for children.
Despite the criticism, neither the FA nor Nike plan to change the St George’s Cross on the new jerseys.
Price for England jersey described as “outrageous”
While the colorful flag made most of the headlines, it also sparked debate about the price, which some considered excessive.
The Football Supporters’ Association is calling for a best-before date to be displayed on shirts so that buyers know how long the shirt will be in use before a newer version is released.
In 2002, the price of an “authentic” shirt was £39.99. If the price rose in line with inflation, it would cost £71.90 in 2024, over £50 less than the actual price in that year.
A Football Supporters’ Association spokesman said: “In our national fan survey last year, 53% of fans agreed that the price of shirts was important to them. In this context, £119.99 for a child’s shirt seems expensive, especially if you want to buy your child the full kit.”
They added: “An unsuspecting parent could easily buy a set for Christmas or a birthday and find within a few months that it is ‘old’.”
It was said that Brentford and other clubs who stick to a two-year cycle for their kits are leading the way in reducing costs and waste. This is because as a club they produce not just one home kit, but also several away kits, goalkeeper kits and training kits.
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