Welcome to Arsenal match worn shirts, I’m James Elkin and my passion for collecting Arsenal shirts started way back in 2007. Having supported the club for as long as I can remember, I was absolutely devastated when Patrick Vieira left to join Juventus so, when we drew his new club in the Champions League the following season it was a massive game. Arsenal didn’t let us down, winning 2-0 with Thierry Henry setting up the first goal, and then scoring the crucial second goal. A few weeks later, I discovered that Henry’s shirt from the game had come up for sale. The very shirt he had worn during the match, and I had to have it.

A few days later the shirt arrived. I can remember opening the package and taking out this shirt that wasn’t just a football shirt, but a piece of Arsenal history. It came with a certificate of authenticity, and I was so pleased I decided to give the company that had sold it a call to say thanks. That is when I first spoke to my co-author of The Arsenal Shirt book. Simon Shakeshaft, or Shakey as his friends call him, who is a shirt collector and an absolute expert in his field. After two hours on the phone hearing all his stories and listening to his insight into the world of collecting football shirts, I was hooked and since then I have become an avid collector of Arsenal shirts.

Over the years being part of this community has enabled me to be involved in some special projects that you dream of as an Arsenal fan. Some of my shirts were featured in the Thierry Henry documentary filmed at the  training ground. I have worked on a programme feature for the season and have my shirts displayed in the Arsenal museum.

My proudest achievement is working with Shakey and our book being nominated at The British Sports book awards in 2015. Through writing the book it was a privilege to meet some of the biggest Arsenal legends from past and present; who I have built friendships with enabling me to add some of the rarest of shirts to my collection.