A DEFINITIVE guide to some of the world’s most memorable, unique and outrageous football shirts by Newport’s resident expert has received rave reviews.

Released yesterday on the back of five-star reviews from national press, The Football Shirts Book - The Connoisseur’s Guide by Neal Heard explores the marriage between the beautiful game and popular culture.

More than 150 iconic and lesser-known shirts from across the history of the beautiful game are analysed in the new release.

The new book follows other releases from Mr Heard, originally from Pill, including Trainers which remains a hit among trainer enthusiasts.

“I have a background in fashion so had an idea of what people dig but in the same sense I’m a semi-historian in that I explore in detail areas that a lot of people are interested in and want to be celebrated,” said Mr Heard.

He added: “More often than not when people think of football shirts they think of retro kits of old from the 1970s and so on but there’s much more to it than that.

“There’s personal attachments and the memories that they conjure up and also their links to pop culture, music and social change.”

Mr Heard says there has been a resurgence of older shirts being worn at football matches, notably among crowds following Wales home and away.

He added: “Some of these kits will stand the test of time and they have been celebrated in Wales as part of its own culture with movements such as Spirit of ‘58.”

The author, who now lives in Magor, has filled the book with detailed breakdowns of each shirt along with interviews with designers and those that have been informed by the influence a simple kit could have.

With Mr Heard being a Newport County AFC fan, the inclusion of the side’s renowned Goldie Lookin’ Chain sponsored shirt wore during their 2004/2005 FAW Cup stands out.

According to the author these unique shirts are fast becoming a “fashion statement” on football terraces and elsewhere.

Such a resurgence, he believes, is evidence that the humble football shirt is “moving into new areas”.

“These days they’ve become a bit more like basketball jerseys and and are worn as a type of fashion statement,” he said.

“Not only that but you see clubs like Tottenham Hotspur doing new things like unveiling kits with grime artists.”

Mr Heard’s talents have not gone unnoticed - his London-held exhibition titled The Art of the Football Shirt attracted huge crowds since debuting earlier this summer and there are tentative plans to work with football’s ruling body FIFA on a future project.

He has also shared his knowledge on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and more recently on Soccer AM, where he is set to start a weekly segment discussing football shirts.

“People from TV have been trying to get me on for years to talk about trainers but I was always a bit shy,” Mr Heard admitted.

He added: “But it’s great when you feel relaxed in front of the camera and it’s good exposure.”

The Football Shirts Book: The Connoisseur’s Guide is available through Ebury Press and is priced at £14.99.