HOW WE GRADE
Why we grade every shirt
These shirts are twenty, thirty, sometimes forty years old. Two shirts from the same season can be in completely different shape, so the year on the label tells you nothing about what you are actually getting. That is why every listing carries a condition grade from 1 to 10, given by hand after we have checked the shirt ourselves.
What the grades mean
Every grade is judged against the age of the shirt, not against a brand new one. A 1998 shirt at a 9 is not flawless the way a shirt from last season would be. It is exceptional for something that has survived almost thirty years. A 10 is the only grade that means untouched.
10DeadstockNever worn, often still with the original tags attached. No flaws of any kind.
9 to 9.5ExcellentWorn very little. Full colour, sharp printing, no damage. You have to look closely to see that it is not new.
8 to 8.5Very goodHonest wear for its age. Slight fading or light wear on the print, nothing that stands out when the shirt is on.
7 to 7.5GoodClearly used and still solid. Visible fading, small cracks in a sponsor print or light bobbling on the fabric. Always named on the product page.
5 to 6.5WornA fault you will notice, such as a stain, a repair or badly cracked printing. Named in the notes and shown in the photos.
Below 5Heavily wornRare in our listings. Something is clearly damaged, and that damage is the first thing we name.
These are the same colours as the badge next to the grade on every product page, so you can see at a glance where a shirt sits before you read a word.
The notes field
Next to the grade, every product page has a notes line. Any flaw we find goes there in plain words, for example "sponsor slightly cracked" or "small mark on the back". If that line is empty, we found nothing worth naming. The photos are of the exact shirt, never a stock image, so what you see is what arrives.
Want a closer look?
Ask us before you order. We will check the shirt again or send you extra photos of any detail you want to see.