The new National Football Museum certainly has some interesting exhibits, including a penalty shootout area, coins given out at petrol stations and one of Maradona’s shirts. Whilst Steve Hodge may not be English footballers most memorable figures, and is often referred to more as a journeyman than a star, he is the proud owner of this most renowned item of football memorabilia.
At the end of the notorious quarter final in the World Cup of 1986, when a certain Mr Maradona effectively punched England out of the competition with his hand of god goal, it was Hodge who swapped shirts with the diminutive Argentine cheat. From that day he has held this in his possession, well almost, as he had to keep it in his bank as his home insurance company deemed it to valuable to insure under his contents policy.
While it isn’t recorded anywhere officially, it’s rather safe to assume that Diego didn’t have the same problem with Hodge’s shirt. From next weekend though, Hodge will no longer have to make an appointment with his bank manager if he wants to have a look at this shirt of shame, as it will take its place amongst the 3000 items that make up the display of Manchester’s new National Museum of Football.
Adam Comstive is the marketing and communications manager for the museum, and he says that when they have had test groups around, it’s one of the first things they go to see. He added that he thinks its is an object that we all love to hate.
To be honest, the object of such revision isn’t much to look at. A short sleeved, Royal Blue shirt with visible scuff marks on the neck, presumably from where it had to be stretched to fit over the wearers vastly oversized head.