Could this be my Lucky Jersey? (What to wear for the Euros Final)
Photos: Navygrey
Are you superstitious? When it comes to football, I most certainly am. Both where I watch a game – and what I wear. While I love seeing the post-match public celebrations (on the news), crowds jumping, pints of beer flying, Sweet Caroline blaring – I’m not much of a pub-going football fan. It’s great to have the camaraderie of fellow supporters, but in the comfort of our own flat, I can curse and cry in private.
Fortunately, this week, I think I’ve found a Lucky Jersey.
Lots of people have ‘ lucky clothes;’ and superstitions. After winning a match with his shorts on back-to-front, the former-England player, turned football manager Paul Ince continued to wear them the wrong way round. Gareth Southgate had a lucky waistcoat – ditched when the squad didn’t make it to the World Cup Final in 2018. My friend has a lucky leopard print coat that she says, ‘ Definitely got me into places, posh bars where there’d be a doorman – and lent me a layer of louche chic. I associate it with some good times.’
The Breton with a shirt underneath, perfect for an English summer
For the quarter-final of the 2024 Euros, when England played Switzerland and we were dragged through 120-excruciating-minutes of dreary football to a penalty-shoot out; I wore this Navygrey Breton top. We scored all five spot kicks in superb style. An absolutely cracking display. So, it was same again for the semi against the Netherlands. And a winning goal in the 90th minute. Unbelievable. Could it be…
Though traditionally a French design, white and navy are the colours of the England team, and I’m never going to pay over the odds for a replica (polyester) kit. Made from 100% organic cotton in Portugal, after two years research and development, it’s a modern classic. Worthy of the beautiful game.
Let’s not get too carried away, Spain are a strong team, it’s not going to be easy. I still can’t quite believe England are in the Euros final, but I do know what I’ll be wearing…
More lucky stripes…Do you believe in lucky items and good luck charms?
STYLE NOTES
My Breton top (Lucky Jersey) was a generous gift from Navygrey. There aren’t any photos of me wearing it because it’s far too tense watching England play football.
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Discussion (26 Comments)
I love watching the big tournaments (particularly when it’s the Lionesses!) and the fans behaviour seems to be fine so far. Hope I’m not tempting fate by saying that, I’ve just remembered the terrible scenes in London at the last Euros final…
Good news there’s a feature in today’s Guardian where the head of the UK football policing unit says, ‘The vast majority of travelling England fans have been extremely well-behaved. It’s been fantastic to see so many fans enjoying the football and supporting England all the way to the final.’
Oh same here! This Euros I have worn a Seasalt Breton, which I bought post a recommendation from you, for England games. It gives me comfort to think I’m doing some small thing to help! We’ve got this…
Eve McBride says:
Community Clothing do some great Breton stripes at very reasonable prices and they are made in the UK!
i always used to buy Seasalt’s striped tops, but (in my opinion) they don’t seem to be the same quality these past few years.MaureenC says:
I’ll be watching but being Irish supporting England doesn’t come naturally! However as an Exeter City Supporters Trust member (we own the club) I’ll be supporting Ollie Watkins. He’s a local Devon lad and came out of our academy and I watched him as a young lad and develop into the massively talented player we sold to Brentford. The transfer fee for that and our cut of the transfer on to Villa paid for fantastic new training facilities. He has a great reputation locally and I’d love to see him to score again!
On another note, lots of women of my age tell me that football supporters are agressive and violent forgetting that they are describing me too of course! There was a period in the 70s and 80s when that was accurate at some grounds. But that was more than 40 years ago. I’ve taken my 94 year old aunt to the football as well as all my kids when they were young and frankly I’ve seen more agressive behaviour in town on a Saturday afternoon than I ever have in a football ground.So true, Maureen. I’ve been a football supporter all my life (along with the rest of my family) and it is not all hooliganism and drunken behaviour. There’s a feature in today’s Guardian about just this:
Anna says:
120 pounds!? When you can buy excellent Bretons at Seasalt and – my latest find, the softest, most luxurious cotton Breton from M & S for a fraction of the price?
It is a lot of money, Anna. I’ve included Seasalt, M&S and Boden (and a wide range of prices/ options) in the gallery at the bottom of the page.
Nicola says:
I’m so glad I’m not alone in being a bit gobsmacked at the price! It came up as $293 Australian dollars and I didn’t even look to see what I would to pay on the delivery charge. Fortunately I currently have half a dozen Boden versions in my wardrobe so I’ll stick with them.
Agree with you Nicola, Boden is a good place for Breton t-shirts. And it is annoying when an extra charge is slapped on top ( hello, Brexit!) The Lucky Jersey was a gift from Navygrey ( as detailed at the bottom of the feature). The sustainable knitwear brand has recently moved into tops and T-shirts and sent it out with a press release. I always include a range of prices, it just happens that this is what I wore for the quarter-final match.
Gillian Forrester says:
I agree with others that the £120 price tag for the Navygrey breton is hefty, and ATM it would be a stretch for me to buy the shirt. That being said, I have just trawled their website for information regarding their manufacturing practices, and was extremely impressed by their efforts to buy sustainable wool and cotton, and that 80% of their clothes are made in the UK (and the remaining 20%, including your Lucky Top, in Portugal). This is the real cost of buying sustainable and ethically-produced clothes., and I’m sure that that the top will last for a long time. I bought a Breton top in Jigsaw for £40 in 1992; it seemed expensive then, but is still going strong! At the age of 64, I am now shopping infrequently, but, when I do, I am looking for garments that will see me through!
I’m sorry that the Lucky Top did not do its stuff for the Euros final last night, but keep wearing it! There are some fine young players on the England squad, but they were let down by not having a better strategy, and Spain is a fantastic team.
Christine Donne says:
Football’s not my bag but I may watch it this year; providing it doesn’t cash with a tennis match. I’ll even wear a blue & white tee to show my support. I did however, watch England win the World Cup in 1966 on my in-laws back & white TV & remember being quite excited at the time – the crowds were much more ‘sedate’ in those days! As you say Alyson, C’mon England ! In fact I’ve just remembered – I have a sequinned Union Jack camisole I bought for the late Queen’s Jubilee so I’ll wear that…!
Anne says:
Love football and love stripes. (Breton sounds too French-we must find a more appropriate name).
Mrs Tonia says:
I have been enjoying watching the Euro footie competition this year. My hubby and elder son support Aston Villa and go to matches. So I know far more about the beautiful game than I would. Watching the 90th minute goal by the striker Ollie Watkins of Villa was madly exciting and skilful. Like Alyson I enjoy seeing the excitement of the fans and felt part of the zeitgeist even sitting on my couch at home.
Success did lift moral. The sense of hope. We’ve been missing that. Apparently Keir Starmer sneaked out of NATO meeting to watch a bit of that last match on Wednesday. Prince William was in attendance cheering and will fly to the final in Berlin this Sunday. I shall be watching that but with trepidation. The Spanish team are capable and fierce from what I’ve seen.
As for clothing no special lucky garment for me. Nor stripy Breton tops. The ones I favour are by Armor Lux. A classic French brand. I bought several in different colour ways when they weren’t expensive. Very good quality and long lasting. Sales on now on their website.
Those apart I like striped t-shirts I’ve bought from Cos. Those too long lasting examples.Amanda nicoll says:
You will have to change ur ‘lucky top’ alison!!!!! U feel so sorry for the devastated losing team.i suppose professional sport is like that, the highs and the lows.i actually live in Scotland where a lot of people support ANY team playing England which I really don’t like.olympics to watch next…. A v good day for Spain on the sporting front.
No longer lucky! The best team won but we have some young, exciting players to look forward to – and the Lionesses!
Angela Blair 
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Utterly fed up of hearing about football! It seems to bring out aggression and bad attitudes all round. I will be happy when it is all over!