Being the Kitman: Shamraiz Haider – Al Hamriya Sports & Cultural Club

Football supporters see the shirts laid out in the dressing room, the players warming up and the team walking onto the pitch. What they rarely see are the hours of preparation behind the scenes that make sure everything is exactly where it needs to be.

For the first interview in our relaunched Being the Kitman series, we speak to Shamraiz Haider, a professional Kitman and Equipment Manager currently working with Al Hamriya Sports & Cultural Club in the UAE.

Shamraiz has been with Al Hamriya since 2018 and is officially accredited by the UAE Football Association, giving him more than seven years of professional experience in football kit and equipment management.

From preparing thousands of items of kit and remembering individual player preferences to last-minute printing emergencies and 16-hour matchdays, Shamraiz takes us behind the scenes to explain what life as a professional football kitman is really like.

Firstly, could you introduce yourself, tell us which club you work with and explain your role?

Hi, I’m Shamraiz Haider. I am currently working with Al Hamriya Sports & Cultural Club in the UAE, where I have been since 2018, and I am officially accredited by the UAE Football Association.

I work as a professional Kitman / Equipment Manager, with my role involving every detail of the team’s matchday and training kit, equipment logistics and individual player preferences.

My responsibility is to make sure the players and technical staff have everything they need for training and matchdays, prepared correctly and at the right time.

How did you first become a kitman, and was working in football something you’d always wanted to do?

Working in football was always a dream of mine. My entry into kit management combined my deep passion for the game with a technical and organisational mindset.

I pursued formal qualifications to better understand the elite sports operations side of football. Over time, managing kit and equipment transformed from an interest into a full-time professional career.

 

What does a typical working day look like for you?

A typical non-match day starts early. I arrive at the training ground before anyone else to lay out the full kit for players and coaching staff according to weather conditions and session needs.

During training, I monitor pitchside gear, assist the coaching staff with equipment and manage drink stations. Afterwards, I oversee the laundry operation, sort gear for the next day, carry out inventory checks and prepare for upcoming match trips.

Behind the Scenes

What goes into preparing the kit for a matchday that supporters probably wouldn’t realise?

People usually just see 11 shirts on the pitch, but they don’t see the hours of prep: heat-pressing sleeve badges, applying match details, double-checking boot studs for different turf conditions, organising compression wear, and ensuring every player’s specific kit superstition or customised fit is met without error.

 

How far in advance do you start preparing for a match?

Matchday preparation starts three to four days prior. We cross-check kit colours with the referee and league guidelines to avoid clashes, check badge applications, print emergency back-up shirts and pack the logistics trunks.

What’s involved when you’re preparing for an away game compared with a home match?

Away games are a full logistical operation. We pack primary and alternative kits in case of last-minute referee decisions, training gear, medical trunks, laundry bags, boot trunks, ice baths and printing equipment for emergencies.

Everything must be categorised, loaded onto transport and set up at the away stadium long before the team bus arrives.

Roughly how much kit and equipment are you responsible for during a season?

Thousands of individual items!

Between home, away, third, goalkeeper, training, travel and coaching staff kit – plus boots, bibs, balls, cones and GPS vests – you manage thousands of pieces of inventory every season.

Do players have individual preferences or routines when it comes to their kit?

Absolutely. Some players want their shirt folded a specific way, others like custom grip socks cut and taped in a precise spot, and some refuse to wear a shirt until five minutes before the warm-up.

Respecting these small routines keeps players calm and focused.

 

What’s the strangest or most unusual request you’ve had from a player or member of staff?

I once had a player ask for a specific pair of pre-match warm-up socks to be washed twice in a certain fabric softener because he believed a specific scent brought him good luck on the pitch!

The Kits

Do you have a favourite shirt or kit that you’ve worked with during your time at the club?

I’ve always had a special connection to classic, clean home kits. Working with European and Middle Eastern kit aesthetics has given me an appreciation for minimalistic designs with sharp detail accents.

Is there a particular kit from football history that you’ve always loved?

The classic Real Madrid 2001-02 Centenary kit or the France 1998 World Cup kit. Timeless, bold and iconic.

How involved are you when a club receives a new kit for the first time?

Very involved. We do sizing checks across the entire squad, test the fabric under heavy washing, check printing quality for numbers and sponsor logos, and provide feedback on fit and comfort before official press shoots.

What happens to the shirts after a match?

Match-worn shirts are gathered immediately post-match. Some are swapped with opposing players, some are saved for charity auctions or player personal collections, and the rest go directly to high-temperature laundry to be prepared for future games.

 

Shirt collectors always want to know this one: what really happens to old or unused kit at the end of a season?

Unused or end-of-season kits are often archived, donated to grassroots football initiatives and community sports programmes, or shared with academy players to support youth development.

When Things Go Wrong!

Have you ever had a kit-related disaster – wrong shirt, missing equipment, printing problem or something forgotten on an away trip?

Thankfully, strict checklists prevent major disasters! But every kitman has faced a printing press jam 20 minutes before a game or a last-minute squad inclusion where you have to print a name and number on the spot.

What’s the most stressful situation you’ve had to deal with just before kick-off?

A player ripping their shirt or popping a seam right before stepping into the tunnel. Having duplicate back-up kits prepared with their exact name and number in the dugout saves the day every time.

Have you ever had to improvise or make a last-minute repair to get a player onto the pitch?

Yes, cutting and retaping grip socks on the fly or changing boot studs pitchside seconds before a substitute goes on. Quick hands and a calm mind are vital!

Life as a Kitman

What’s the best part of being a football kitman?

Being an integral part of the team inner circle. When the team wins, knowing your hard work behind the scenes contributed to a smooth matchday operation is incredibly rewarding.

What’s the part of the job supporters probably don’t appreciate enough?

The hours! Kitmen are always first in and last out. While supporters see a 90-minute game, we put in 14 to 16-hour workdays on matchdays.

What’s your favourite memory from your time working in football?

Walking out into an empty stadium hours before kick-off, looking at a pristine dressing room set up perfectly, and feeling that electric anticipation before the fans and players arrive.

Is there a particular stadium or away trip you always look forward to?

Travelling to historical grounds with rich football heritage always brings a distinct energy and excitement.

Without getting anybody into trouble, who is the easiest player you’ve worked with when it comes to kit – and who’s the most demanding?

The easiest are the experienced veterans – they just grab their kit and play.

The most demanding are usually the young wingers who care immensely about every millimetre of sock height, boot fit and hairband styling!

Finally…

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a kitman or work in football?

Be humble, highly organised and willing to put in long hours. Build network connections, acquire official operational or coaching licences, and never compromise on attention to detail.

Is there anything about the job that you’d like football supporters to understand better?

It is a profession driven by passion, discipline and high stress. Every piece of clothing on that pitch represents hours of meticulous preparation by dedicated staff.

If you could be the kitman for any team from any period in football history, which team and season would you choose – and why?

AC Milan during the mid-2000s era – 2006/07.

Managing the kits for legends like Maldini, Kaká and Pirlo would have been an absolute honour.

What’s Next for Shamraiz?

After more than seven years working with Al Hamriya Sports & Cultural Club in the UAE, Shamraiz is now looking towards the next chapter of his career.

He is keen to relocate to Europe and is looking for an opportunity as a Kitman or Equipment Manager, where he can bring his experience of professional football, matchday preparation, equipment logistics, player requirements and day-to-day kit operations to a competitive club environment.

For any clubs or football professionals reading this who would like to connect with Shamraiz regarding a potential opportunity, please get in touch.