Aston Villa Home Shirt 1996 (1995-97)
That first Reebok shirt remains a symbol of what is possible for the modern day Villa team
The Aston Villa home shirt of the seasons between 1995-97 is a shirt that brings mixed emotions. It was the shirt worn in the last true successful season of the club in the top tier. In the 1995/96 season, Villa won the League Cup, finished fourth and were FA Cup semi-finalists. Brian Little had turned Villa into a formidable force, as they also finished fifth, the following season.
At the same time though, it’s a shirt that reminds Villa supporters that it’s been 25 long years since the club last won domestic honours. It’s too long a wait. For context, Villa fans in the 1990’s felt that the 12 years they had to wait between winning the European Cup in 1982 and the League Cup in 1994, was an eternity.
Let’s dwell on the positives though. That first Reebok shirt remains a symbol of what is possible for the modern day Villa team, highlighting a level that the current owners will no doubt see as possible to reach.
The shirt kick-started a series of Reebok shirts throughout the later half of the 1990’s, leading Villa into the 21st Century, before Diadora took over in the 2000/01 season.
As well as the ‘1996 shirt’ being memorable for the 3-0 1996 League Cup win over Leeds United, the shirt will certainly bring back memories of the shirt being one of the best harnessers of static electricity in Villa shirt history!
Best Player to Wear the Shirt?
In terms of the best Villa player the shirt is synonymous with, it would have to be Dwight Yorke. Yorke, ala Eric Cantona, would wear the shirt with his collars up. Yorke scored 20+ goals in all competitions in both his seasons wearing the shirt, along with a goal at Wembley to help win Villa the League Cup.
Best Result in the Shirt
It would be perhaps too obvious to cite the aforementioned League Cup final, as the best result. Villa had also beaten Leeds 3-0 in the league at Villa Park that season and with Villa the favourites for the final, it wasn’t so unexpected.
In terms of the football world on a whole though, probably the most infamous game that the shirt featured in was the 3-1 home win over Manchester United at Villa Park, that kick-started the 1995-96 season. The ‘You can’t win anything with kids’ game.
Like the League Cup final of 1994, Villa managed to beat United 3-1, but this time Peter Schmeichel was in goal for United and not suspended.
Best Deal on Shirt
This is probably the most likely of the classic Villa shirts that more Villa supporters will still have the original of. You can still get decent condition smaller sizes on Classic Football Shirts for around £30, if you’re lucky. Mens sizes though, tend to be around £79.99. You can use the code MOMS10 to get 10% off at Classic Football Shirts
The Vintage Football Shirts site also has the odd one pop up at a similiar price point.
Retro Version
Meanwhile, the 1996 Aston Villa shirt has been released in the retro range, which you can it for around a tenner cheaper (including postage) than the club shop by using the code 3RETRO10 on 3 Retro here or by clicking the image above/below.
*The shirts score is a combined tally of design, Villa’s success in it and fan’s rating
UTV
