Welcome to Auction Action, our monthly review of Hull City apparel sales online, from matchworn shirts to vintage replicas. This month we have ten items to share with you… (writes Mike Carter)

One of the rarer shirts that we’ve covered in a while is this ‘Tash Converters’ ‘keeper jersey from 2012/13 by adidas. Ahead of the ‘Movember’ charity drive that encourages the sponsored growth of moustaches in November, Australian sponsor Cash Converters raised awareness of the mens cancers charity by amending their sponsor applique. Used once against Bristol City in late October 2012, this gold jersey worn by Ben Amos at Ashton Gate was available for £203.48 last month.

A 2017/18 away shirt by Umbro issued to Brian Lenihan sold for £80.39, before any import and postage charges from Ukraine. Lenihan only made one appearance during 2017/18 – you may recall the much-changed team that took on Doncaster in the League Cup. That game played in the home kit, meaning Lenihan didn’t play any first team games in this kit.

This next shirt is an interesting one, make your own mind up on it’s provenance. It is a 2008/09 third shirt by Umbro, which was the 2007/08 away shirt brought out of mothballs after the borrowed shorts debacle at Newcastle.

The all-white kit with added Premier League appliques was used for an FA Cup replay as City returned to St. James Park to face Newcastle for a third time in 2008/09. This shirt is printed with #8 BARMBY on the back and could well be match issued, the size medium is about right, but there is a lot of wear and tear for a shirt that was only used once in match action, and Barmby wasn’t part of the squad for the 1-0 win in January 2009, so it certainly isn’t match worn.

Of course, it’s not unusual for match issued shirts to become public property after the’ve reached the end of their match use lifespan, we cover several every month, and maybe this one was worn by some Tom, Dick or Harry for 5-a-side football over the last 15+ years. Or maybe it’s a printed up replica, the club shop used only player spec appliques during our formative Premier League years after all, so who knows? It was listed on eBay for quite a while, but eventually it sold after an offer was made, one likely below the initial £79.99 asking price. A battered old replica or a bargain player spec shirt? **shrugs**

Onto vintage replicas… Any shirt from the 1980s in an adult size is always going to be popular, and that is the case for this Matchwinner home shirt from 1988/89, too! This listing had 34 bids placed by 10 bidders in the hope of securing a new addition. The highest bid was £175, a price that falls in line with our historical sales record. Sweet!

It’s good when we can have a theme for editions of Auction Action, and for the next part of this write-up that theme is long sleeved shirts – everyone wants to be a long sleeve hero, right?!  

The first of three is this 2005/06 home shirt by Diadora in size medium. It sold for a steal of a price in our book, too. It was listed at just £16.13 – an incredible price for the buyer, not so much the seller, though.

The same seller also listed a long sleeved 2007/08 home shirt by Umbro in size XL, and it sold for £21.48. Not quite as much of a bargain as the 2005/06 shirt, but when you factor in the club featured in its first Wembley appearance in the kit, it’s a great price for something so iconic.

Long sleeves are for everyone, and the third and final long sleeve shirt was this women’s fit 2010/11 home by adidas in size large. It was listed at £26.67, but sold using the best offer feature.

Moving into the printed replica resale market and we have a 2002-04 home shirt by Patrick, with #7 Elliott on the back. This sold for £26.55. We certainly approve of the shirt and the player, but the word ‘orange’ in the title? Come on james.ba.99 – do better!

Sometimes shirts sell for a ridiculous price, and this one meets the threshold for September 2025. The shirt is a 2007/08 away shirt by Umbro printed with the name of Nigerian superstar Jay-Jay Okocha,  #44 and Coca-Cola Football League competition patches. I think the seller was rather fortunate to sell this for the £139.99 someone paid, but the seller account is one which will bide its time to sell items for a premium price, so all power to you, FFS (that’s the seller name, not me overreacting.)

Our 10th and final shirt is this 2018/19 home shirt by Umbro printed with #14 Grosicki and Sky Bet Championship competition patches. A man who was arguably one half of the best Championship wing duo we’ve had, a Polish superstar who was adored by the Tiger Nationals and opened the door to many Poland natives adopting City as one of their clubs. The shirt was listed at £77.99, and sold using the best offer feature.

That’s all for your September sales, we’ll be back in November as we look back on what Hull City items sold in October!

Caveat emptor!

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