The Australian Socceroos, were soundly defeated by Germany, 4 -0 in their opening round game , of the World Cup .

The Socceroos, minus Harry Kewell, who was selected on the bench, received a further blow when striker , Tim Cahill, was sent off, in the second half with a red card .

Sleepy fans , ( many got up at 4.30am EST to watch the game ),outplayed Socceroos team members , and befuddled coaches and managers alike, are dismayed .

Some poor decisions were made , in hindsight .

Not the least of which , was the style , of the Australian , team jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Fair enough , have the Australian Coat of Arms , but the footy jumper , jersey , guernsey , was a bit on the drab side .

Why, weren't they playing in a colourful, streamlined , beautifully crafted , piece of apparel , like the modern day , AFL football jumper ?

I blame their lack of success on the jumper !

An AFL Football Jumper

Why do we follow the teams we do ?

Often , it is family tradition that dictates which team we support.

The person who takes us to the footy
when we we are young can decide who we will barrack for .

A young man may barrack for the team they played with in an amateur league or at senior level who is affiliated with a particular afl club.

Geographical location may dictate who you will barrack for .If you live in Carlton does it follow that you will go for the Blues?

Peer group pressure and wanting to follow the same team as your friends might decide who you follow. Also if you want to go the footy you will go with fans of the same club , sit together and wear your similiar football jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Clubs under threat of amalgamation , annihilation or extinction call on fans loyalty to the jumper , jersey , guernsey .

The colours of your clubs jumper , jersey , guernsey can ignite passion and instill loyalty no matter who you follow .

Its tribal , its colourful , its passionate and there is no more brilliant sight than a sea of fans in the colours of your clubs jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Every supporter has a reason why they follow who they do .

All are valid . All fans look and feel good in their team colours jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Dust the mothballs of Grandpa's old Geelong jumper. Wash out Uncle Bill's Essendon Jersey .Get your jumper you wore as a skinny teenager down from the top shelf and get to the footy .

Your jumper , jersey , guernsey will enjoy going to the footy again .You will be pleased to evoke a few old memories of a bygone era if you can stand the overpowering stench of the mothballs!

Are you a Bulldog?

Football Jumper , according to the Heinemann Australian Dictionary a jumper is " a garment , usually knitted , worn on the upper part of the body for warmth , etc."

Previously one of the functions of a football jumper was to keep a player warm.

In the modern era this is not its main role. It is used to market the Club ,the Colours, the Player and the Brand . .All are easily identifiable as belonging to a particular tribe and "keeping warm "is incidental .

Jumpers can be high fashion garments . Fans love to wear their Jumper.

Old style Jumpers are historical and collectable .Sentimentality and nostalgia dictate that the old style jumper will not die out .

Modern day Jumpers are streamlined , close fitting and generally made of a synthetic material designed to enhance the players performance.

Jumper , Jersey or Guernsey ? Wear yours to the Game this weekend.

modern

Guernsey is the new word used to describe the humble football jumper.According to the Heinemann Australian Dictionary it means a " heavy woollen jumpers such as is worn by footballers , sailors etc. ( originally from the island of Guernsey in the English Channel )

Todays streamlined version of a guernsey is a vastly different version of a " heavy woollen jumper. "

The modern Jersey , Jumper or Guernsey is usually quick drying , snug fitting polyester, often without sleeves or collar . It is colourful and printed with many logos , names and sponsors.
Even the number, and sometimes the players surname is printed onto the back of the Jersey , Jumper , Guernsey.

Surely the term guernsey is just another word for jumper?

Perhaps jersey is the American term for Jumper . Guernsey is the UK term for it and jumper is Australian.

Who really cares what you call it . If you are at the Game and you are wearing your teams Jersey , Jumper or Guernsey and they are winning that is all that matters!

premiership style

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