Having navigated your way through all the changes in the first team kit, the away strip should be a breeze. There weren't any changes. This, of course, makes it difficult to identify from the many replicas that are still around.
The badge issue was settled by the time the team went to Macclesfield, each player with two standard issue shirts. The odd ones may have been given away and then replacements should have come from the club shop but generally, the two issued will have lasted the season. The crunch came at Darlington where most of the shirts were thrown into the crowd as the team clinched the title. The remaining aways - and remember the team only wore the away when it clashed with the home sides colours, were kept by the club and given to sponsors.
Octavian Security had the shirt logo but this was not worn on the black and white kit - unlike last season so it remained only on the blues.
The Shirts of the Championship Winning Season - Part 2
We can't find any difference between away replicas supplied by Notts and the original players shirts, supplied by Nike.
The shirt of the captain Thompson - if you have a genuine away, its source will probably have been someone in the crowd at Darlington or a shirt sponsor who received a match worn as part of their deal
The logo of Octavian Security is a sure sign of a genuine goalie shirt because it was never produced as a replica. Goalies tend to have a favourite colour and wear their choice without regard to sponsors logo or home and away designation.
As a later signing for the club - in August, Kasper limited regular first teamer Hoult to a few appearances at the start of the season and ten minutes at the end. As far as shirts go - Schmeichal's number 23 was much in demand and he got through twelve shirts in a season - some going to visiting referee's (apparently!) and others to favoured fans. None remained at the club by the end or have come up for sale privately although its probable they will do at some stage. So, how will we know a genuine from a rep ?
Their was only two colours available as replicas from the shop - gray and yellow, the latter colour favoured by Kasper and Houlty. Both of these, of course, had the Medoc sponsors on. If you have a green goalie shirt or one with the away sponsors on, its definately the real deal. Presumably, also, there would have been a 'Bradford badge' goalie shirt with a gold trim around it. That would also mark it down as worn. Other than that, you're on your own a bit in spotting the genuines.
A word about Pilko - he never played so there are no match worns for this season for him. His green, gray and yellow were made up though, so match issue is a possibility.
Son of my Father !
Kasper Schmeichel had been to Meadow Lane before in the relegation clash with Bury but his his return to Meadow Lane was the beginning of a great season at the other end of the table. Now with premiership experience, he looked the real deal and became a big hit with faithful. With twelve shirts issued, you think you'd see at least one - wrong ! They were all slung or given away. This one, a replica signed by his agent and equally famous Dad as well as Kasper, was the best we can get...not a bad little bit of memorabilia in its own right though !
Houlty played a great part in keeping the Pies in the league when he first came. The promotion season was his last and he and Pilks were both released at the end of it
The Goalkeeper's Kit
Who cares about goalkeeping kit anyway...nobody of interest ever turns up at Notts right ?. Wrong ! Kasper Schmeichel, probably the clubs most exciting and expensive player ever to appear between the sticks since Iremonger changed the profile of the net minder forever.
