Welcome to the next chapter of KitLegit’s Collectors Series Blog. This time we’re heading to Geelong, Australia, to meet Alex Rundell (known as Runners online), a devoted husband, father of two, and passionate vintage shirt collector with around 70 carefully chosen pieces. From childhood fake kits to hunting real grails, Alex’s collection is a beautiful blend of nostalgia, football memories, and family moments.

From Fake Kits to Real Grails

Alex’s love for football shirts started as a kid when he wanted a different shirt for every training session. “Unfortunately, after learning more about authenticating shirts, they were all 100% horrible fakes!” he laughs. As an adult in his 30s, he’s now slowly replacing those childhood fakes with the real deal, while also adding shirts tied to special players, seasons, or even memorable years on FIFA.

The Three Untouchable Grails

Alex has three absolute favourite shirts:

• 1995/96 Real Betis Away – His first true “grail” shirt, one he never thought he’d actually own.

• 2000/01 Napoli Third (with the iconic Peroni sponsor) – Featured in The Sopranos on Furio. Alex rescued it in average condition and cleaned it up beautifully.

• 2004/05 Atlético Madrid “Spiderman 2” Shirt with Fernando Torres on the back – A shirt he wasn’t even hunting for, but simply couldn’t say no to when it appeared.

He also owns one of the rarest pieces in his collection: a 1995/96 Wimbledon Home shirt worn by Vinnie Jones.

90s Kappa & Real Betis Love

Alex has a clear soft spot for old-school 90s Kappa kits (“they’re unmatched in my opinion”) and the early 2000s era that brings back so many childhood memories. Interestingly, he now owns more Real Betis shirts than any other team.

The Purple Shirt Moment

One of Alex’s most heartwarming memories happened at home. After buying his three-year-old daughter a purple Real Madrid top, she saw him wearing his purple Iker Casillas goalkeeper shirt and asked if she could wear hers “like daddy.” “This was one of my happiest days as a collector,” he says, “being able to share something like this with my daughter.”

Sourcing, Authentication & Community

Living in Australia brings unique challenges — money is always a factor, and international “drops” often happen in the middle of the night. Alex has overcome this by building strong relationships with local and international stores. His tip for new collectors? Learn to say “shirt” in as many languages as possible and source directly from the country of origin for obscure teams.

For authentication, he relies heavily on KitLegit and cross-references product codes, wash labels, stitching, and club logos.

He preserves his shirts by hanging them in a cupboard and soaking the older ones in cold water before air-drying.

The Unexpected Power of Community

When asked for advice, Alex highlights something he never expected: “The football shirt collecting community is incredibly supportive and helpful. Starting my Instagram page @runnersvintageshirts was one of the best things I ever did. I’ve met so many like-minded people from all over the world and learned so much from them.”

Nostalgia, Family & Kappa Perfection

Alex “Runners” Rundell’s collection proves that football shirts are about far more than fabric — they’re about memories, childhood dreams, surprise grails, and precious family moments in purple. From 90s Betis and Napoli classics to a Vinnie Jones Wimbledon rarity, every shirt in his 70-piece collection tells a story.

Follow his vintage journey on Instagram: @runnersvintageshirts

Another brilliant story in the Collectors Series! Want to see your collection featured next? Send us a message. In the meantime, visit KitLegit for trusted kit verification and authentic finds. What’s your all-time favourite 90s Kappa kit? Tell us in the comments! ⚽