With the new season upon us, and a new kit to help us shed the nickname “the Mighty Elves” (as least until the festive period), I just wanted to canvass opinion to see if any other players would be interested in getting hold of some team drill/training tops or rain jackets with the team crest etc. We’ve had them before and would be good idea in my opinion.

I’ve had a look around and it seems that we could get hold of ProStar Drill Tops for around £15 plus initials and single colourway club emblem (£3) depending on supplier. Rainjackets are a couple of £’s more

See the following for an idea:

http://www.teamsportswear.co.uk/tr_ps_kansas.htm

http://www.directsoccer.co.uk/acatalog/Set_Of_15_Kansas_Training_Tops__All_Colours_.html

http://www.directsoccer.co.uk/acatalog/Set_Of_15_Michigan_Tracksuits__All_Colours_.html

These are only examples of what’s available. Post replies and then we can see if this is something we should look into and I can obtain some quotes from various companies.

Nice idea...

I think some fetching drill tops or rain jkts in our new club colours and bearing the holy Maple crest would be a winner for sure - anything to put the opposition off the fact we're a bunch of part time amateur jokers.... at least until kick off anyway!!!

Just received a quote for a set of Prostar training tops (based on 15 tops ordered and including players initials and Maple Leaf crest printed on the chest).

Quote is £297 inc. delivery (working out at £19.80 a piece) - that's under £20 for a nice new piece of kit

Tempted....?

Had another quote in working out at around £21 per top (printed) but...

This company has offered embroidered club badges which would mean a £50 set up charge for the order but it would last much longer and would work out to be still under £25 per top.

Further quotes on the way.

Any takers?

No, not for me - though a most welcome idea into trying to fool the opposition inot we actually know what we are doing (until kick-off anyway).

I take it the £19.80 per drill top would come out of each players' individual pocket, and not the club funds?

To be honest, if we were to do anything like this I'd rather get a batch of Umbro polo shirts from SportsSoccer at £3 each and get the Maple logo printed or embroidered on them.

Even then, I'm sure we'd look a rabble as half of the squad would be wearing them, whilst the other half are not - let alone getting people to fork out £20 as they only get to play 5-10 minutes each week - if playing at all.

Also any resentment that someone who can only play when they can comes in and takes another players' place who has been turning up all season and to training each week - especially now as there are a few players I've heard say they 'can play when they can', and that there is now a 21 man squad for this season (but maybe that's for another thread):-

1. Ade L
2. Alex K
3. Bob G
4. Dean L
5. Eddie H
6. Gary M
7. Geoff K
8. Iain M
9. Jason S
10. Jon G
11. Jon W
12. Mark K
13. Matt H
14. Nick G
15. Paul E
16. Phil V
17. Rob C
18. Ste A-B
19. Stu W
20. Tim W
21. Tony R

Oi Sadler you missed me off the squad list you git. Just because I've retired. Ageist!.

For that you can buy my training top for me.

ATB

Shingles C,

(4th choice keeper & bloke you'll no doubt be phoning in November asking if I'll come along because you might be short.)

I thibk it can be safely said that it'll be a LOT sooner than November before we bring out the quality retired players into play...


apologies for the error - have been a little confused of late:-

Matron insists that 23yr old European Championships top socrer and European Cup winner Baros (Liverpool's best striker) has been sold to Villa to make way for some Judas Welsh Dwarf who sold the Mighty Reds down the river £££wise last season, left the manager with no time to get a replacement, lied to the fans about how close he was to signing a contract extension whilst a deal was already struck with Real Madrid behind their backs.

Apparently it hasn't worked out for him as Real Madrid realised he isn't world class (13 goals in 39 games), he has lost his pace due to injuries, has little skill or good control and he & Madrid won fuck all (still a good player - but not great). He is also 6th choice in a World Cup year' - and now wants to come back to Liverpool to play regulary so he can make the England team - though only if he can wage parity with Gerrard and the no10 shirt off Garcia...

btw - in the one season Liverpool play without him and 'to his to strengths' (very nice of him to stab Houllier in the back for playing to the those strengths which Owen himself demanded) they win the European Cup (depite only having Baros fit up front as everyone else was injured or unavailable)...

(I think Matron has been sipping my medication - surely LFC wouldn't entertain the idea of getting rid of Baros for a shiteout like Owen?)

KEEP LFC JUDAS WELSH DWARF FREE

I`m up for having a nice new training top. No point going too cheap for them though, last one fell to bits in minutes.

Good thinking from Sadler - Embroidered Umbro polo's could be a happy compromise! Sports Soccer is a winner too as they are currently closing down & practically giving stuff away!

I know £50 set up fee for embroidery seems steep but once it's paid for (maybe the club could cover this??!) it can be used again and again if we decide at a later date people are happy to splash out on rain jkts or whatever.

????

Yes, each squad member would be asked to pay for his own training top – but then again the club is run on funds that come from the subs that we all pay anyway - so it all comes out of our own pockets. We might well have a surplus that could be used but then it would be up to the powers that be. Perhaps funds would allow for the tops to be part subsidised from club funds and that would mean that players would be asked to pay in the region of £10 for this?

I’ve received quotes from those companies that I have asked and they’re all fairly standard (no surprise there – I’ve asked them to quote for the same top). Its good quality and if any of you have seen anyone in a university club training top it seems to be the same one as those.

The cheapest I can get these tops for would appear to be £16.05 each. The company has offered free set-up of the club badge (this is printed on) with delivery £4.95 per order (for the whole lot). Delivery within 21 days. Prices based on a set of 15 but I can easily order additional tops.

The reason behind the idea was not to exclude those who don’t play hence me seeking other’s opinions. Everyone has been asked to comment and decide whether it’s for them. If we were to go to the trouble to get something like this done then why not have a piece of kit that will last and is of good quality?

I up for a good quality top for the mighty Elves.

I take it we don't have to have smart-arse nicknames on the them.....

Not unless you want a smart-arse nickname on it. I am sure this could be arranged... Any preferences? Perhaps we could have a vote?

I don't think that the whole squad is getting access to this message board so I will send an e-mail out next week to ask each and every player if they want to sort this out. After all, this is something that should include all squad members and it would seem odd if 75% of us had a training top and the others didn't.

Currently have approx £350 in club funds (some money owed to club + invoices for Earls to be paid).

First payment for pitch due which I think is about £250.

Last training tops weren't great and waste of time having those type of labels on as they just peel off.

We're not that flush if you think we'll have to pay another £250 ish for second half of season.

Ref for home games is £20 this season.

May also have to purchase more balls during season for match balls lost at home games.

Suggestion of paying £10 each and club funding rest sounds ok though.

Need everyone to agree on type of top (quality, colours, logo etc).

If the club becomes more flush, and since there are alot of children now belonging to team members, perhaps individuals could have their child's name on the football boots?