Liverpool 2005 UEFA Champions League Final Match Shirt
This shirt was issued to Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland for the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan. The shirt is different to standard replica shirts in two respects: firstly, it has the embroidered match details on the front of the shirt. Liverpool FC did issue some replica shirts with these details embroidered onto the front but there were no goalkeeper shirts - it was only on red, outfield, shirts. Secondly, there is no 'Play Dry' tag on the right shoulder of the shirt. All replica versions of this style of kit had a 'Play Dry' tag on the right shoulder but there is no such tag on this shirt.
The shirt was donated by Chris Kirkland to a local football team in Leicestershire. I purchased the shirt from this football club. There is a letter of authenticity from Chris Kirkland's sister confirming that this is one of his Champions League Final shirts and that he donated it to the local football team. The shirt is the correct size for Liverpool goalkeeper shirts and bears the correct size and style of lettering and numbering. As well as that the shirt has the official Champions League badge on the sleeve. Kirkland has signed the shirt on the front in clear black ink.
The shirt is slightly unusual because it is the 'Home' goalkeeper shirt. Dudek wore Liverpool's 'Away' Goalkeeper strip in the Final - a black / purple top. This was because whenever teams compete in any European match they are required to bring a change strip in case there is a clash. In English domestic competition it does not matter if the two goalkeepers wear similar colours but in European competition it does! Because Dida wore a green strip, Dudek was required to change his top and wear the black / purple 'Away' shirt instead. Kirkland did not play and was, therefore, allowed to keep his standard green shirts. Contrary to popular belief, most substitutes are only given their actual match shirts once they are about to take the field. There certainly would have been an 'Away' black / purple shirt for Kirkland to wear if Dudek had needed to come off but, because this did not happen, it is highly unlikely that Kirkland even saw that black / purple shirt. It would have been kept in a bag along with the other unused substitutes' shirts. After the match ended and the players were given their shirts to keep as souvenirs, Kirkland was given his green shirts and not the black / purple 'Away' shirt.
The shirt has the correct style of numbering on the back: the numbers are the 'Chris Kay' style but do not have any Premier League logos on them because the shirt is to be used in the Champions League and not in a domestic competition.
This is a photo of the right shoulder on Chris Kirkland's Champions League Final shirt. Please note the complete absence of a 'Play Dry' tag. This tag is found on all replica shirts of this style. It is not found on any goalkeeper match shirts from the 2004 - 2005 season. The fact that there is no 'Play Dry' tag on this shirt proves that this is an authentic match shirt and not a replica!
This is a photo of the right shoulder on a standard replica shirt. The 'Play Dry' tag can be seen very clearly.
A photo of Jerzy Dudek commiserating his Milan counterpart, Dida. Because Dida wore the green strip that he can be seen wearing above, Dudek was forced to wear Liverpool's 'Away' Goalkeeper strip. In European competition there cannot be a clash of goalkeepers' shirt colours. Kirkland did not play in the match and so he kept his standard green shirts instead.
Chris Kirkland (circled) celebrating Liverpool's historic fifth Champions League success!
