The Soccer Jersey's Roots in a Nutshell

There is nothing else more appropriate than rooting for your favorite soccer team clad in a soccer jersey that seemingly screams, "I'm here to support you all the way... Go team!"

A soccer jersey is the binding factor of teamwork in this game that has become very popular over the years. It is the symbol for the players' valor at the field and serves as the identity marker when the game is on. Soccer has been enjoyed in England for centuries already before it became popular worldwide. It is believed to have started in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC in China. Others refer to the Roman's harpastum game as the origin and has spread throughout medieval Europe where the rules of the game evolved continuously up to our present time.

The soccer jersey has undergone a lot of changes too, over time. The 19th century versions had long sleeves and they were made of heavier materials, typically cotton. As the game became more and more famous, the uniform continued to change. The soccer jersey replaced Victorian style top while the "knickerbockers" of the Victorian times became long shorts. In Europe particularly Italy and Hungary, after the Second World War, the uniform saw its fastest transformation as the shorts became shorter and the clothing materials became lighter. Since thick fibers become heavy and sticky as the player sweats, synthetic materials like nylon and acrylic became the more thoughtful and wiser choice when they got invented.

The modern soccer jersey is light and does not cling to a wet body. It comes in bright colors and others have bold lines for distinction. Team insignias and logos of sponsors or multinational companies also get imprinted on it for marketing purposes. Months before international competitions, stores parade their soccer jersey merchandises for the fans who would like to purchase one or two they can wear to the games. These shirts could be the originals worn by the popular players in the previous games, or they can be replicas.

Soccer jersey stores sell uniforms for every team, brand, and nation there is. The most popular jerseys for the fans are those that have the names of their favorite players printed on them like Beckham or Ronaldo. It doesn't matter if they're retired or active players; the fans are much too eager to go to the stadium and proudly show off their soccer jerseys. International competitions like the World Cup and UEFA Championships, which attract millions of fans worldwide, have been instrumental in the teeming success of the soccer shops that sell merchandises like the soccer jersey. They can sell in large numbers since people have become more and more attached to the game and their teams.

Wearing a soccer jersey to a game, especially an international one, could also be a sign of country loyalty as the fan proudly wear his national team's uniform together with the others who would like to see their team bring home the trophy for their country. The soccer jersey has come a long way and has changed a lot through the times. The soccer game will continue to be a craze and we can only expect to see more and more soccer jerseys flaunted at the benches game after game.