NEW ARRIVALS

Shirt made by Umbro for Michael Owen for an England European Championship victory over Croatia

The National Football Museum has received an exciting new exhibit for its collection. UMBRO, the internationally recognised football brand and kit supplier for England, the FA and the FA Cup, kindly donated the England shirt made for Michael Owen for England 's game against Croatia in the group stage of the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal. England won the game 4-2 with goals by Rooney (2), Scholes and Lampard. Michael Owen went on to score in the next game of the tournament, the quarter-finals against the hosts Portugal, but England exited after penalties.

England 's winning game against Croatia was the only time that England progressed to the knock-out stage of a European Championship on foreign soil and contrasts dramatically with England 's defeats against Croatia in their failed bid to qualify for Euro 2008.

The Umbro shirt is made of x-static® material, a fibre made with a layer of 99.9% pure silver, which is permanently bonded to the surface of a textile fibre. It has previously mainly been used in the industrial and medical industries, but the x-static® technology is now also used for sports clothing as it is according to the manufacturer “natural, anti-static, antimicrobial and therapeutic”. It takes moisture away from the shirt and keeps the wearer cool while exercising.

The shirt will be used for science talks and school sessions to demonstrate the advanced technology of the fabric and will also be on display at the National Football Museum from mid-December 2007.