Elland Road the home of Leeds United. The place where rivalry reaches new heights and the screeching sound of the famous “Marching on Together” is belted out by the home crowd prior to the match.
The Yorkshire club currently play in the EFL Championship after relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the 22/23 season. They were defeated 4-1 at home by Tottenham Hotspur under the management of Sam Allardyce.
But how many of those loyal fans actually buy the replica shirt at the start of every season? We spoke Leeds fans and here’s what they had to say.
Firstly, Jane Beer, a lifelong supporter and season ticket holder of 12 years said: “I buy the kit when there’s a design I particular like but I don’t buy a new kit every season, they are very expensive at their full price so I always wait for the offers to come around if I do buy something.”
Another season ticket holder Louie Mitch added “It depends, the last few seasons I’ve not bought one because of the prices, I think they are too much, if I’m being honest.”
James Yates has supported Leeds for over 30 years and he revealed that he purchases the new shirt each year but only as a birthday gift because in his eyes they are too expensive.
So how much do the replica shirts cost? The club has three shirts per season, the standard home and away and then a third kit just in case. According to Leeds United’s official website an adult home shirt is priced at £65 and to add customisation it’s an extra £20.
In comparison with shirt prices for football teams across all the leagues in the Yorkshire region, Leeds United is the joint-highest price, despite only being in the second-tier of the English football pyramid. Whereas Sheffield United, who compete at the top-level in the Premier League, charges £10 less for their replica shirt.
Realistically with an ongoing cost of living crisis it’s not affordable for everyone to buy their favourite club’s shirt every season. Which most folk don’t.
