Premier Soccer Gear

The English Premier season runs from August through May, which means that a lot of matches are played in weather conditions that are less than ideal. Rain, fog, sometimes even snow and the one thing fans who go to see their favorite EPL teams know is that it can awfully cold up in the stands sometimes.

Good job for them (and for EPL fans everywhere) that there is a wide range of EPL licensed cold weather outwear available to keep them warm. Here are a few of our favorites, all newly released for 2011-2012 season:

Nike Manchester United Flip It Reversible Jacket

A replica of the cold weather wear worn by Sir Alex Ferguson’s sideline team, this warm quilted 100% polyester zip hooded jacket is two coats in one. You can choose to show your team pride in red and black with the Manchester United crest screen printed in black on the left chest or flip the jacket for an all black look with a red crest. The Flip It Reversible Jacket has a full hood and deep zippered pockets on both the black and the red and black sides.

adidas Chelsea UCL Stadium Jacket

This bold jacket is the same one worn on colder days by new Chelsea manager Andre Villa – Boas and his staff. Black with vibrant orange details it features both the Chelsea crest and the UEFA Champions League logo, and the adidas three stripe logo on the back. The jacket is fully lined and all three of the logos and embroidered, not screen printed.

adidas Liverpool FC Padded Jacket

This replica jacket matches the colors of the new 2011/2012 Liverpool FC away kit – grey, white and red. Featuring a zip off hood it is fully lined, 100% polyester and feature the newly redesigned Liverpool club badge and sponsor logo on the right chest and the adidas logo on the left.

Umbro Manchester City Padded Training Jacket

The other Manchester Team – Manchester City – have lived in the shadows of United since the EPL began in 1992. In 2011/2012 they are running neck and neck with their rivals for the first time in years. This is the official replica Manchester City training jacket, featuring full padding, a detachable hood and the Manchester City logo on the left chest.

Nike Arsenal Replica CL Jacket

This is a slightly lighter weight replica jacket as worn by Arsene Wenger and his sideline team for chilly fall and spring matches. Featuring the same colors as the new Arsenal 2011/2012 away kit it is made from a breathable 60% cotton/40% Polyester blend and features the Gunners badge on the left chest and the Umbro Logo on the right.

Wherever they might actually happen to live in the world there are few sports fans as loyal to showing off their love of the beautiful game as EPL fans. And for a lot of them the holiday season is no exception. Here’s a look at some of the best festive EPL holiday décor available this year (really)

Manchester United Christmas Tree Ornaments

Available in packs of three any Man U fan would be proud to decorate their holiday tree with a few of these Manchester United tree ornaments. Each set comes with three different colored ornaments – red, black and gold – that are 2” in diameter and made from real glass. Each features the Manchester United crest and come ready to hang.

Its not just Manchester United fans who can decorate their Christmas tree in this way. Similar holiday ornament sets are available for fans of other EPL teams including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

EPL Team Christmas Crackers

Christmas crackers are a very English tradition. They are used to decorate the holiday table and when they are pulled they usually reveal several surprises. Now if you are an EPL from anywhere you can add a Premier League themed touch to your Christmas dinner table as well. Whichever EPL team’s crackers you choose they come in packs of six and feature the club badge on the front.

Once open they contain team colored confetti, a team trivia question card and one of six team themed trinkets –  a whistle, a yo yo, a compass, a key chain, a picture holder or a puzzle. Apart from being great for your own holiday table these crackers would make a great host/hostess gift for EPL fans as well.

EPL Christmas Cards

Want something a little different from the run of the mill Santas and reindeers on your Christmas cards this year? Then you should invest in a set of Christmas cards that feature your favorite Premier League team. All of the licensed EPL team Christmas cards available feature team themed artwork and come with matching envelopes.

EPL Flashing Reindeer Antlers

A really silly , but really fun gift for Premier League soccer fans these EPL team flashing reindeer antlers are battery operated and mounted on an easy to wear headband. Each pair of antlers feature a fur trim and the team crest embroidered on each antler. These would make a great icebreaker at holiday parties or great stocking stuffers for all the EPL fans on your holiday gift list.

EPL Themed Christmas Stockings

When Santa arrives you EPL fans can have him leave their gifts in a licensed EPL team Christmas stocking. Whatever team you choose you get a soft and fluffy roomy Christmas stocking in your teams colors and emblazoned with your team’s embroidered crest!

Given that it is the most watched soccer league in the world its actually strange to think that the English Premier League was only launched on August 15th 1992.

Image via Wikipedia

Of course English soccer is far older than that but as English football began to decline in the 1980s – hooliganism, crumbling stadiums, clubs in financial trouble – it was obvious that something needed to be done.

The final straw came in 1989 after the Hillsborough disaster when 96 Liverpool FC fans were killed, crushed during an FA Cup semi final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The inquiry into the tragedy, led by Lord Taylor recommended a complete rethink and restructuring of the way soccer stadiums in England were set up and soccer clubs were managed.

The cost of implementing all the recommendations, which included making all soccer grounds all seater stadiums, irked clubs and some talked of breaking away from the Football League. That did happen when all of the the then First Division clubs resigned from the Football League and the Premier League was established as a private company.

In the beginning there were 22 clubs in the Premier League but that has since been reduced to just 20. Every season three clubs are promoted from the Coca Cola Championship League (the old second division) to what is now officially called the Barclays Premier League and three are demoted to make way for them.

The most successful club in EPL history is the mighty Manchester United, as led by Sir Alex Ferguson. Since 1992 the club has won an unprecedented 12 league titles and have never, in the history of the EPL finished lower than third.

In the 2011-2012 EPL season the make up of the English Premier League is as follows:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Norwich City
Queens Park Rangers
Stoke City
Sunderland
Swansea City
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
Wigan Athletic
Wolverhampton Wanderers

EPL Viewing Figures

English Premier League soccer is broadcast in 202 counties across the world, drawing a regular viewership of over 180 million.

EPL and Foreign Players

In the 1980s and early 1990s to have a foreign player on an English First Division club was a rarity. Since the inception of the EPL that has changed significantly. In the 2011-2012 season there are more than 250 of them. In addition the EPL has attracted foreign managerial talents who brought a different style of play to the EPL and to English soccer in general.

The EPL and Merchandising

In addition to TV and ticket revenues EPL clubs draw a significant part of their incomes from licensed merchandise of all kinds. This blog is designed to highlight the best of that merchandise, uncover some hidden gems you may not see in stores and keep you up to date on new merchandise as it appears.