So, despite being quite the knowledge on football shirts, I managed to buy a counterfeit England shirt on eBay this week. Can you spot which shirt below is the Rodney (the moody one) and which is the Rooney (the official one)?
In fact, it appears this is the first of a batch of fakes produced in the Far East about to hit our shores, and unfortunately (for them) it was sold to a journalist who knows the chaps at Umbro very well. Anyway, careful what you buy on eBay, for the differences are quite subtle. Here’s what to look out for, because they’re coming to a market stall near you.
1. The famous Umbro logo. On The Rooney it’s made of a mat-finished cotton, the Rodney is all shiny and fakey.
2. The button. If it’s ‘a Rodney’, the button is white, without the red colouring seen on the real thing.
3. The three lions. Rooney’s shirt is pale blue, while Rodney’s is darker and looks like it was sewn on by prisoners.
Remember, Delboy, if it’s too good to be true, it normally is. Buy your official Umbro gear from Umbro.com. Mange Tout?