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Football Shirt

1989-1991 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a West Ham United F.C. supporters t-shirt. It is child-sized, a replica of what the team members were wearing during the period of 1989-1993 on the pitch. By wearing this t-shirt, the owner would show their allegiance to a particular football team. The claret and sky-blue colouring is indicative of the team who permanently adopted these colours from their founding company, the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding company, in 1899. The company also gave rise to the symbol of two crossed hammers which can be seen here in the jacquard and on the crest. Although, due to a funding dispute, the original name of the Thames Ironworks Football Club was dropped in 1900, once renamed West Ham the club kept the hammers insignia and this was adopted as a nickname, both for the team and for the supporters.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Jacquard woven polyester, with plastic printed logos.
Brief description
Child's West Ham football shirt, Bukta, UK, 1989-1991
Physical description
Football shirt in burgundy with pale blue sleeves and trim, with West Ham crest on proper left of chest, and sponsors logo in centre ('BAC / The window people'). The textile has a jacquard weave through the weft and warp that makes a repeating pattern of crossed hammers.
Dimensions
  • Height: 46cm
  • Width: 61.5cm (arm to arm)
laid flat
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'BUKTA' (Logo, right side of chest)
  • 'WEST HAM UNITED F.C.' (Team name within club crest, left side of chest)
  • 'BAC / The window people' (Sponsor name, centre front of shirt)
Credit line
Given by Teresa Hare Duke
Object history
This shirt belonged to Louie Hare Duke, he had been desperate for a football shirt and when he spotted this with his mum at a car boot sale he was really happy to finally get one. His mum altered it to fit as it was far too long. As he was too young at the time he did not quite understand why everyone kept saying he was a West Ham fan when he supported Arsenal.

This object was acquired as part of the World in the East End project at the V&A Museum of Childhood.
Production
This kit was used by West Ham United for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a West Ham United F.C. supporters t-shirt. It is child-sized, a replica of what the team members were wearing during the period of 1989-1993 on the pitch. By wearing this t-shirt, the owner would show their allegiance to a particular football team. The claret and sky-blue colouring is indicative of the team who permanently adopted these colours from their founding company, the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding company, in 1899. The company also gave rise to the symbol of two crossed hammers which can be seen here in the jacquard and on the crest. Although, due to a funding dispute, the original name of the Thames Ironworks Football Club was dropped in 1900, once renamed West Ham the club kept the hammers insignia and this was adopted as a nickname, both for the team and for the supporters.
Collection
Accession number
B.216-2011

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Record createdMarch 15, 2012
Record URL
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