Would you like to point out where I said (or even implied) that?
Did all the other kids have a nice new shirt, and all you had was your own little home made flag, with colours that constantly ran due to the little grey rain cloud that followed you around. As a result you have grown up with a strange inclination to hate replica Cas shirts?

If it helps make you feel any better I will send you my old shirt each year when I have done with it. Actually f**k it, if it will stop you wittering on I will bloody buy you one!

So what you're saying is that colour on the terraces adds to the supportive ambience The sort of colour you'd find on a flag or, say, a replica shirt?

That's the whole point of a replica shirt, and is why we still have a club today. You may not think replica shirts are not that much important revenue stream but it prrovides the whole financial input of the club.

As you so rightly said, replica shirts are a billboard of advertisements. Without things like that, we'd not have the financial input of sponsors who pay lots of money and all that goes into the maintenance and running of the club.

Cas on average sell 1000-1500 replica shirts at a guess - that's 400k on replica shirts and once more goes on player recruitment.

Think you need to stop thinking at the front cover and judging and delve deeper to actually find out why these things - and the changing of them every year are important to the entire foundation of the club.

Maths is obviously not a strong point then? 1,500 (max) sold at £40 equals £400,000? If you say so.

Railwayend - just stick your old shirt on a flag pole - job done.

The problem I have is that replicas are cheaply made , sold at vastly inflated prices as they have the club crest on. If I were paying that much for an item of clothing I'd want it to be of a higher quality than is provided and not feel it necessary to replace it every 12 months.

Tell you what they could do - put the prices of ST's up £25 and give a free replica.

That's actually not the worst idea I have ever heard. If it was optional, I'm sure many would take up the chance for a cheaper shirt.

I think that's a great idea tbh

Not all the shirts are priced #40 he probabley made an allowance for child sizes, discounts etc.

It's still a good £340,000 out though!

Maybe I'm going insane, but doesn't 1000 x £40 = £40,000

Too true. Heres an even better idea, I'll stick you on my big purple flag pole, then rip off shirts will be the least of your worries! Seriously though, I know what you mean about the quality. If we are paying £40 a chuck they should be of reasonable quality ( Although I they are ideal for going to the gym, and last years was pretty good quality). But I don't think one shirt a year is over the top. Look at chavball, they have a shirt for playing a team who's name begins with each letter of the alphabet. But at the end of the day, the club cant make us buy them.

Whoops, long day at work combined with tiredness is my excuse for that mistake. Still it's an important revenue stream for the club.

Plus he's a journalist … words, not numbers

Possibly. But it's one that's stood me in good stead for 25 years now …

My excuse for being bad at words is that I'm good at numbers, somehow I'm still surviving...