Nowadays, professional football clubs release new team jerseys every year. To start with, they have a Home shirt and an Away shirt. Major clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid would have Third alternative shirt, and even special editions for important campaigns such as the Champions League.
Back in 1990's, 98% of people wear white cotton T-shirt when playing football. The ones who wear football shirts (even a non-club one) on the pitch would be considered as a smart fashion guy. And you seldom see people wearing white of England or red of Liverpool, both on and off the field.
With Dog that wears Kenzo casually, you would not be surprised if some of them suggested buying a team jersey ...
They were not looking at building up the identification of the Team, nor do they want to get respect from the opponents. In fact, they even don't know there is an official football rule requiring that teams should be equipped with same uniform (including shirt, short and sock) by all players.
Then, why would they want to buy a team shirt? It might be because they thought it would be good looking. Though they are proud of being one of the 7 Dogs, deep inside their minds, some might have the feeling that playing in team jersey would somehow looks attractive to several targeted female ... who knows?
On 12 March 1994, Fai and Winkins went to Mong Kok to buy the shirts. As with most of the Hong Kong football fans did, they went to Hing Fat (i.e. the Base Camp of Football Gear). Both of them were addicted to adidas, and they never took a look at nike shirts, puma shirts, lotto shirts or umbro shirts whatsoever.
Well before they got off from the train, they already decided to choose a white shirt. Indeed, both of them like white shirt. It is now impossible to know the true reason. May be they like wearing white as England does (at least Winkins does). Or may be they think wearing white would reduce some temperature from the burning sun.
They were so special that they would not be satisfied with a plain white shirt. As a result, to ensure it was simple but elegant, they choose the one with three blue stripes on the right shoulder. No doubt a very cool design!
All decisions were made by the 2 Dogs alone. There was neither team vote, nor any player being consulted (remember, there was no such thing as mobile phone back then). People didn't know what the shirt looked like until they received it.
Beside the shirts, they also bought shorts of the same design. This started the tradition that Dogs United wear WHITE as their Home shirt.
As they were so special, they would not be satisfied with things like all 7 Dogs wearing exactly the same shirt. And you have to find a way to identify individual shirt after the laundry (at that time, they were sharing the laundry machine). It seems obvious, but let me tell you the truth: if you don't have a personalized shirt, how can Ms A or Ms B knows who's who? There would be no point for them to buy the shirts at all ...
Without hesitation, they personalized their shirts with classic black fonts for both names and numbers at the back. Good boy!
With only 7 players, it was easy to handle the allocation of numbers:-
Looking back, it was the only time (up to and including the latest 4th team jersey) that the Team equipped with a branded shirt, we should thanks to the grant and loan of the Hong Kong British Government.
Comments from Dogs:-
Sing, " I am 小志強, I am the Center Forward, I should wear No. 9 ... "
Winkins, " Glenn Hoddle wear No. 4 for England in the World Cup 1986, I should wear No. 4 ..."
Fai, " Bryan Robson wear No. 7 for Manchester United, I am Robson ... "
LCK, " Can I not buying it ... it is so expensive ... wasting money ... "
Winkins, " Hoi, only 2, 3, 5 and 6 are available, what do you think? " Hoi, " OK la ..."
It might looks simple, but it indeed provided a substance for the Team. It also announced the official establishment of the Dogs United Football Club. In turn, they were the 7 founder members.
Even from this very beginning, it was extremely difficult (if not ever) to get a full team photo. Even if they did get a full team (in 1994, full team = 7 players), someone would wear something else (as shown in the below photos). Why? As mentioned, may be he thought that wearing something differently would look more attractive to that targeted female. You know what? 大學生的思想其實是挺幼稚的 ...
Besides the 7 Dogs, you can also find good dog Chan Fok Cheun here.
After all, they got a team jersey ... finally.