Elgin man John Blair inspired by Boys Club and Academy football as he pens book entitled A Culture of Kits
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AN ELGIN man has revealed all about the increasingly-popular trend of collecting classic football shirts in a book that is set to be released in the new year.
John Blair, who now lives in Utah, USA, has a fascination with football kits that goes back to buying shirts from Sandy McConachie's SM Sports shop in Elgin in the 1990s.
Three years ago, he decided to put that fascination into words and pen a book – entitled A Culture of Kits – which is due for release on January 22, 2024.
In the book he gives tips on how and where to buy cheap kits, explains exactly what makes a kit a classic and how buying football shirts became so popular.
He explained that there has been a rise in the popularity of classic shirts in the last few years.
"Since the pandemic, suddenly football shirts are everywhere," John said. "The Kardashians are wearing Roma shirts and people are at festivals are wearing football shirts.
"People had more time, more disposable income and people were showing off their collections. It really ballooned from there.
"The book examines the nine pillars that determine whether a shirt becomes a classic. There are more than 10,000 produced a year – so it looks at what dictates whether a shirt will increase in value or not.
"I think people will really enjoy the book. There are kits from big English clubs, Japanese kits, American kits and Scottish ones. I even managed to sneak an Elgin City one in there without the publisher questioning it!"
The book – 288 pages and more than 45,000 words with 150 pictures – will also detail the history of the industry from humble beginnings to what it is today, detail how to check a kit's authenticity and predict future classics.
John has interviewed people from Asia, Australia, Europe and America for the book, and has collected some shirts that have cost in excess of £400.
He traces his love for shirts back to his time at Elgin Academy, and earlier Bishopmill Primary School, as well as playing in Elgin Boys' League.
"I have always been into football from playing in the boys league and for Elgin Academy," he said. "But after leaving school things went on the backburner.
"When you were collecting something back then there wasn't a forum to know of other collectors out there. A lot of people felt they were the only ones.
"This is my first book and it's been a long process. I started writing in the summer of 2020 so it will be three and a half years in total.
"I'm massively nervous for the reaction. Only a few have read it, and family tell you it will look good. The best part will be when I get a copy and see it all come to life."
The book, which is being published via Pitch Publishing, is available for pre-order now. It will be available on Amazon and Waterstones for £26.
