Description
An original and official match-worn long sleeve Manchester City home shirt worn by Asa Hartford during the 1981/82 First Division season—Manchester City’s final campaign before the introduction of shirt sponsorship.
Quite simply, this is one of the rarest and most historically significant Manchester City shirts of the early 1980s.
The number 10 shirt was worn by two of City’s most iconic players during the season. It was initially worn by Tommy Hutchison before being taken over by Asa Hartford following his return to Maine Road, giving this shirt an exceptional place in the club’s history.
The 1981/82 season marked the end of an era, being the last campaign in which Manchester City played without a commercial shirt sponsor. The following season saw the introduction of the club’s first-ever shirt sponsorship with SAAB, making this one of the final unsponsored Manchester City shirts ever worn in competitive first-team football.
Interestingly, this classic design enjoyed a second life during the 1982/83 season. Although SAAB sponsorship had been introduced, television regulations of the time prevented shirt advertising from appearing during certain televised fixtures. As a result, Manchester City reverted to these unsponsored shirts on a number of occasions, making them an important part of the club’s transition into the modern era of football sponsorship.
Examples of this shirt are exceptionally difficult to find, and in over three decades of collecting, another match-worn example from the 1981/82 season has rarely surfaced. It is a truly unique and highly sought-after piece of Manchester City memorabilia.
The shirt features all the correct player-specification details associated with Manchester City match-worn shirts from this era and represents a wonderful opportunity to own a genuine piece from one of the club’s most fascinating transitional seasons.
Every shirt featured on this website is an original match-worn or match-issued example. These shirts are among the hardest Manchester City memorabilia pieces to obtain and form part of Mark’s world-renowned collection of Manchester City match-worn shirts.
Each shirt purchased comes complete with a personally signed Letter of Provenance from Mark, confirming its authenticity and origin, giving buyers complete confidence in the history and provenance of their shirt.
Whether you’re a dedicated Manchester City supporter or a serious football memorabilia collector, this is a rare opportunity to own one of the most elusive and historically important Manchester City match-worn shirts of the 1980s.
Please contact Mark for further information or to enquire about purchasing this shirt.
