England football shirts fly off shelves at Shrewsbury shop
Classic England and Argentina kits are for sale at 12th Man Retro in Shrewsbury as Three Lions fans prepare for a World Cup semi-final against old rivals Argentina. Owner Shaun Owen says England football shirt stock is flying off the shelves, while a handful of Argentina tops remain for rival fans.
Key Takeaways
- 12th Man Retro in Shrewsbury reports strong demand for classic England shirts ahead of the Argentina World Cup semi-final.
- Shop owner Shaun Owen still stocks about five or six Argentina shirts, mostly from the 2000s, and expects Scotland fans to buy them.
- England's iconic 1982 World Cup shirt can be cut from £50 to about £13.08 online for new TopCashback members shopping at Pro:Direct Sport by 19 July 2026.
- Current Nike England home and away stadium jerseys are also selling fast at retail, priced around $100 for adults.
- Owen has opened a second Shrewsbury store, 12th Man Retro: More Than Football, stocking classic rugby, cricket and American sports shirts.
Local nostalgia is meeting national fever. According to the Shropshire Star, Salopians have been emptying the rails at Owen's Parade Shopping Centre shop while hoping Thomas Tuchel's side can reach Sunday's final—and finally end 60 years of hurt.
That scramble for an england football shirt is the latest chapter in a then-and-now story: tomorrow's kick-off, yesterday's kits, and a rivalry that still sells.
Why are classic England and Argentina kits selling in Shrewsbury?
England face Argentina in a 2026 World Cup semi-final that has stirred old grievances as much as new hope. The Shropshire Star notes there is "no love lost" between the nations, citing Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 finals and David Beckham's red card in 1998 for a kick at Diego Simeone.
Despite that history, Owen says there is still a local market for Argentina shirts. "I've got probably about five or six in stock," he told the paper. "I'm expecting I'll probably sell them all to Scotland fans!"
He called the 1986 Hand of God kit the most iconic, praising older Le Coq Sportif designs he would like to stock—"but not this week." The Argentina tops he does hold are mainly from the 2000s and feature the famous light blue and white stripes.
England shirts, by contrast, have been moving quickly as World Cup fever grips Shropshire. Owen's own football awakening began with Italia 90—Paul Gascoigne's tears and Chris Waddle's skyward penalty included—and he says those kits remain favourites: "We've managed to source quite a lot of them."
One of the unusual pieces he has already sold was a Tony Adams England shirt from 1994, a World Cup England never reached. "I got it from a museum in Milan," he said. "I didn't sell it for much extra."
Where else can you get a deal on an England football shirt right now?
Fans hunting a bargain beyond Shrewsbury have another route. Cheshire Live reports that England's 1982 home shirt has fallen to £35 (from £50) at Pro:Direct Sport. New TopCashback members who spend £15 or more by 11.59pm on 19 July can combine cashback with an increased £21 sign-up bonus to bring the effective price to £13.08—about 74% off the original RRP.
Existing TopCashback members pay about £34.08 after cashback. Both figures undercut the England Official Store, where 1982 strips cost £40. The matching 1982 away shirt drops to £17.95 after cashback for new members (and £38.95 for existing ones).
Those 1982 designs—classic home white and away red, with red-white-blue chest stripes, a retro V-neck and an embroidered Three Lions crest—were worn by Kevin Keegan, Terry Butcher and Bryan Robson in Spain. England exited unbeaten in the second group stage after draws with West Germany and Spain.
For shoppers who want today's look instead of yesterday's, Sports Illustrated reports Nike's current England kits are also racing out of stock online while still available at retail. Adult home and away stadium jerseys are listed at $100, with youth homes at $85; the red away kit is selling out faster than the white home.
SI also flags a Pewter Grey England x Palace Nike pre-match top still in stock (men's and women's $72, kids $62) and a Work Blue Nike Energy short-sleeve top at $80—both leaning on 1990s influence for fans who want nostalgia without a full retro strip.
What does the shop owner predict for England vs Argentina?
Asked about the semi-final, Owen left little doubt. "I think we'll hammer them," he said. "It'll be 3-1." He tipped Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as more than a match for Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, arguing England's squad depth is stronger and that this may be the first time his side can play how it wants because Argentina "won't be as defensive."
Whatever the scoreline in Atlanta, the Shrewsbury Town season-ticket holder plans to watch the final—ideally featuring England—from the Isle of Man while following Salop on their pre-season tour.
His business is expanding with the boom. Alongside the Parade Shopping Centre jersey hall, Owen has opened 12th Man Retro: More Than Football on the town's High Street, filling racks with classic rugby, cricket and American sports shirts for collectors who want more than the Three Lions.
For BlasterPost readers who live for heritage kits and modern comebacks, that dual shelf—1980s white, Albiceleste stripes, and current Nike swooshes—captures the moment. The rivalry is old. The demand is new. And in one Shrewsbury shop, both nations are hanging side by side until kick-off.