Interview: Zekey Downes | Shirt Collector & Kit Community Creative | Norwich City Fan.
We're sure many of you already know of Zekey, who has become a massive part of the football shirt community. Zekey showcases his growing shirt collection on Instagram (@Freshshirtsuk), so make sure you check him out to see his journey. We thought it was time to have a catchup with him and learn a bit more about his very impressive collection.
What do football shirts mean to you?
Football shirts to me, are a way to spark conversation, to reignite a football memory, or to add an extra layer of love to my passion for football. That's what it's all about.
What is it that makes a football shirt so special?
A shirt that is special is one that you can just simply look at and and memories comes pouring back. Now a shirt that can do that and evoke memories and emotion just by looking at it.......well, that's a very special shirt indeed.
📸 1990/91 Boavista Home Shirt | Hummel
Do you remember your first shirt?
It's hard to say for sure, but I had a fair few Norwich City and England shirts as a child, which must have been the first ones I started getting. I also had a 2007/08 Roma home shirt, as well as a 2007/08 LA Galaxy home shirt. I have really strong memories of those two, so they must have been really early ones as well.
What is your favourite era of shirts?
It has to be 90s for sure, right?
How many shirts do you have in your collection?
I think I must have around 170 shirts. Some notable ones are my Borussia Dortmund 1995/96 away shirt in long sleeved. And in terms of Norwich City shirts I have the 1992/94 home shirt and the Norwich City 1993/94 UEFA Cup third shirt, which I couldn't leave out!
📸 1992/93 Fluminese Home Shirt | Penalty