NI Clasico represents everything we love about the independent shirt scene. Authentic pieces, properly sourced, fairly priced and often hiding in plain sight. The kind of shirts you don’t realise you need until they’re gone. More importantly, its founder, Ryan, is as sound as they come. No smoke and mirrors, no nonsense, just graft and a sharp eye for a gem. You can trust that anything he sells has been properly vetted.
We’re buzzing to have partnered with Ryan and NI Clasico on the Showboat marketplace, and we recently sat down with him to chat about building something in Belfast, finding value in overlooked shirts and what still gets him excited about the game.
How did you get into shirts, and how did NI Clasico come about?
It actually used to be called NI Classic Shirt Co. I had no clue what I was doing, honestly. In 2018 I was over in Manchester for the Carl Frampton fight. We were staying near where Classic Football Shirts used to be. I walked past the shop, didn’t know anything about it at the time. I was working an admin job in the civil service then. Fine job, paid the bills, but nothing more. I’d dabbled online but had zero retail experience apart from a month or two in a fishing tackle shop. I started talking seriously about opening a shop. My wife’s a primary school teacher, so she’s used to kids saying they want to be astronauts. I think she thought this was the same thing. Seven months later, I signed a lease on a shop in Belfast a couple of days before we got married. I didn’t tell her until after the honeymoon!
Brave man!
Or stupid. We opened the shop in August 2019. I was useless at DIY, bits of the wall falling off, total chaos. But people came. The first shirt I sold was a mid-90s long-sleeve copper shirt from a collector in Thailand. I was part-time for about a year, then COVID hit. And honestly, it went mental. Stock would arrive and be gone the same day.We moved to a bigger unit in October during COVID reopening. People were queuing from half seven in the morning. The whole mall queued all day. COVID was awful, but business-wise it was a perfect storm.
Later on, we moved closer to home. The shop location was perfect, but footfall was terrible midweek. We closed in August 2023, went online and pop-ups only. Then my wife got pregnant. Everything changed again.In October 2024, a unit came up in Smithfield. I said to my wife, “I’m going to open the shop again and we’ll figure it out.” Now I do Thursday, Friday, Saturday in the shop, rest at home with childcare. It works, for now.
How much is online versus physical now?
It really depends on stock. This last year’s been the hardest yet. Stock prices are up, cost of living’s up, people have kids, mortgages. So we brought in mugs, coasters, air fresheners as a joke - and they sell.
How does your personal taste align with what sells?
I still get it wrong half the time. Shirts I think are belters often sit. Stuff I think won’t sell, flies. It’s humbling.
Is it still 90s demand, or more recent stuff?
90s is still there, but it’s more expensive now. More recent stuff is more affordable and more consistent.
How did you build your supply network?
Years of trust, trial and error. You still get caught. Even now. Sometimes boxes arrive and nothing’s what it said it would be. You protect yourself with PayPal, but you still get stung. Having a physical shop helps because people bring stock in — but that brings its own risks too.
How many shirts are in your personal collection?
After my son was born my collection did dwindle, nursery and maternity costs are not cheap! I have a few signed shirts, (Paul Scholes Manchester United 98/00 Home, Match Issued McTominay 24/25 Third) and a mix of 90's classic shirts from Manchester United, Serie A and Northern Ireland shirts.
What’s your favourite shirt that you own?
That does change but if I had to pick it would be the Manchester United 92/94 Home because that shirt was worn when I got properly into Football as a kid. Napoli 22/23 Home has a special place in my collection too because with working with guys from Naples, I fell for the club and I remember telling the guys they will win the Scudetto that season. They didn't believe it but the atmosphere of watching them live that season instilled a belief in the club because of the city and the fans attitude to football is just infectious.
Is there still a holy grail you’re chasing?
I would love a Fiorentina 97/98 L/S Home again, I stupidly sold one before during Covid and regretted it ever since!
Finally…why have you partnered with us at Showboat?
After speaking to Mark from ASB shirts, and of course Rob and Lee it was very clear this is an exciting development in the football shirt market and will grow and grow at a rapid pace. To be offered the opportunity to be involved from the launch of the app from a sellers perspective, is very much appreciated and valued on my side.
More from The Supply
→ Read our interview with Granny's Football Store
→ Read our interview with Retro Football Shirts
→ Read our interview with Squadra
→ Read our interview with Football Finery
→ Explore shirts from the best suppliers in the UK on the Showboat Marketplace.
