Whether you wear them to the gym or at 5-a-side, to the pub, or at a match, or even just watching football at home, that the vast majority of football fans around the world have a jersey or two in their possession.
Anytime a big new signing is made by a club, demand will grow, and we're at a point where there are record sales for jerseys are every year. There' more money than ever in the Premier League in particular, so you'd like to think clubs would offer a competitive price for their product.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case. I had to do a double-take when I checked the Manchester United online store and noticed the price. If you want to buy your jersey directly from the club, it will cost you €90. And that's before shipping.
If you want a name and number on the back of the jersey, Lukaku or Pogba for instance, it'll run you over €100.
That's just madness.
It's a problem that has plagued American sports for years, and it only appears to be going one way in football now.
As someone who has been oddly fascinated with jerseys since I was a kid, I've been collecting them for quite a few years, and in recent years I've sort of crafted the perfect eBay search filter to buy older jerseys on the cheap. In fact, I regularly come across some of my favourite ever jerseys that other people just don't see the value in, and pick them up for less than €15 in almost every case.
There's a misconception out there that the majority of eBay jerseys are fake, but typically it's only new current jerseys at suspiciously low prices that are an issue, and not the more vintage stuff.
After seeing the price Man Utd are charging (and I know you can pick them up much cheaper - nearly 50% cheaper from the bigger sport retailers), I decided to look back and see what that €90 translated to in my recent eBay history going back to 2015.
Here's what I found. These are screenshots of final sales that were viewable in 'My eBay':
Portugal away jersey 2002 Luis Figo - €1.10
I was the only bidder on this, and found it by vaguely searching 2002 World Cup memorabilia.
Barcelona third jersey 2015/16 - €8.23
Real Betis home jersey 2001-04 - €16.46
Probably my most worn jersey ever as the classic Kappa is so good to play in, it's the most expensive jersey on this list. Worth it for the Pro Evo memories alone.
Espanyol home jersey 2013/14 - €2.54
Ireland home jersey 2005 - €5.49
Didn't have a photo of this one from my collection as I lent it to someone for a match and am yet to get it back, so here's my stupid face wearing it last summer.
Italy home jersey 2000-04 - €5.48
An iconic jersey, I found this by searching Kappa jerseys because I loved the Betis one so much.
Japan away 2002 Junichi Inamoto - €7.68
This is by far my most 'Instagramable' jersey, one of a fun player in a fun team at a fun tournament. I bloody loved that World Cup.
Malaga home jersey 2009 - €6.25
Marseille third jersey 2008/09 - €7.67
Unfortunately, this one had a rather large hot-rock on the sleeve which is one of the risks in this business. Those pesky Marseille fans.
Sparta Prague home jersey 2005 Karel Poborsky - €9.56
I tend not to wear this out too much for fear of looking like some sort of football hipster bellend. (I freely acknowledge that I am one, by the way, but I try not to broadcast it everywhere I go.)
Saint Etienne home jersey 2006/07 - €10.44
Toronto FC home jersey 2010 - €8.01
12 jerseys, total price: €88.91
At the end of the day, if you're turning your nose up at a Luis Figo 2002 World Cup away jersey for €1.10 I'd have to ask if you are feeling well. I've paid more for a Mars bar. Granted I would have had to pay postage in the region of €3 from the UK or €5 from Europe, but if ManUtd.com are hiding their postage fees, then so am I.
I realise that broadcasting some of these ridiculous bargains will jeopardise my ability to continue to get them, which is why you won't be getting the magic formula, but much like Michael Jordan's special water in Space Jam, there really is there is no magic behind it.
It's very easy to do a general wide search for football jerseys, set the search to the max you are willing to spend, and see what you can find. Add stuff you like to the watch list and see what prices they go for. The other advice I would offer is if you have one particular jersey you really want, and have done for some time, unless it's ridiculously rare, search for it on eBay every couple of weeks. You'll be surprised how often the same jerseys, much sought-after jerseys, are listed at very low starting prices.
Or leave them all to me, I really don't mind.
This isn't even an ad for eBay by the way, it's just the best place for this thrifty obsession by an absolute mile, although Classic Football Shirts are also bloody outstanding.
