Sheffield Wednesday Kits 1977–2009
Posted by John Devlin
Due to public demand I’ve decided to publish online the complete set of Sheffield Wednesday kits that I produced for TRUE COLOURS VOL 2 but was refused permission to include in the book. I’ve updated them in my new illustrative style and have also included the club’s most recent outfits.
64 Responses to “Sheffield Wednesday Kits 1977–2009”
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January 24th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Wonderful stuff, John! The first one I remember was the home strip of ‘84-87. I also have hazy memories of that rather odd green and white away kit not long after, too!
Not too fond of the home kits featuring narrow stripes, but I believe it’s a valid design as you’ve got to try something different every once in a while.
January 25th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Good to see the 93-94 4th kit that actually caused more problems than it solved at St James Park!
January 25th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Brilliant. I’ll always remember the Bukta kits from the early 80s but my personal favourite is the yellow and black away kit from ‘92-93. Didn’t Chelsea nick it the season after we ditched it?
January 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Talking of the 93-94 4th kit, I believe ESPN Classic(UK) have shown that game recently as part of their ‘Season to Remember’ season of Premier League football games.
Looking at it on tv, I cannot see why Newcastle did not wear their home kit. The Wednesday kit looks very much white with black trim rather than white and black.
January 25th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
those ‘Finlux’ shirts were awful!!
January 25th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Thats it John – straight to the point! The template used on the green shirt was also produced in a similar red and white version for Chelsea which was equally as bad.
I agree Chris (by the way you were quick off the mark, I was still uploading these when you commented!) I’m not a fan at all of the thin stripes. It happened a lot in the 80s though. When I first got seriously into kits there was so many similar designs around I didn’t realise so many teams used to play in stripes. My personal Owls favs were the first Umbro home and away kits – really elegant and classy.
Incidentally, I wonder if the club ever played in a third kit during the 80s? Can’t track one down but someone out there might know.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I don’t think they used a third kit in the 80’s from what I can remember. Looking back I don’t think there were any instances that necessitated the use of a third kit.
I remember that pin-stripe kit of 1987, it was a strange kit and on TV the shirt looked like plain white because the blue pinstripes were too feint from a distance. I think this was the reason behind the change to blue shorts the following season, as Wednesday seemed to look like Leeds in televised matches!
January 31st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
My only wish is that you could make every kit, not only one with MHS-logo, but all four shirts with different logos. Also the Rumbelows shirt with presumable special memorabilia badge or text!
January 31st, 2009 at 5:12 pm
According to the away kit of 2005-2006, Sheffield Wednesday wore the Black away shirt, white shorts and black stockings when they played away to Luton Town, Preston North End, Southampton and Derby County. Away to Crystal Palace and Watford they wore the black shirt, the white shorts and also white stockings!
February 1st, 2009 at 5:55 am
Yes, bit of ineffective kit really that black one – the official shorts and socks were black (in fact, the same as the home) but quite often, as Bjoern-Terje points out, the shirt was worn with the white change shorts and socks from the home kit. They all seemed to work pretty well together though so no harm done!
February 1st, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Is it me or is the 99/00 home shirt missing from the gallery? That particular kit seemed to start the god-awful trend of striped shirts having plain backs, a problem that made some officials at UEFA’s eyes light up.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 am
Jon, you’re quite right! Well spotted, its all done, I shall add it later today. Thanks.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
The missing 99/00 home shirt has now been added.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Can anyone tell me exactly when the Finlux shirts were used. I can imagine the first one; “Finlux TV was in use during the 1985-1986 season, and the “Finlux TV VIDEO” was in use during the 1986-1987 season! But when did the “COLOUR TV” shirt make their apperances, during both seasons or just at the end of the first or at the start of the second?
February 8th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I’ll do what I can to find out Bjoern-Terje. There was a lot of chopping and changing of sponsors logos on Owls shirts in those days.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I have been wondering why Wednesday wore their 4th kit at St James’ Park in the infamous kit cock up game of 93/94 when the 3rd kit of yellow would have completely negated the need for Newcastle to change as well? Does anyone know why this was?
February 12th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
If I recall the yellow third kit was introduced later in the 93/94 season, not just because of that incident at Newcastle but also for use in the FA Cup, as the FA were still insisting that predominantly black strips were banned from use in the competition due to clashing with the match officials’ black kit.
If I recall from the Sky TV commentary at the time (going back 15 years this so forgive me if I’m a bit inaccurate!), Wednesday turned up at Newcastle with two sets of away shirts – the regular black away shirt, and the white one, because they didn’t have any other change kits available.
The referee wasn’t happy with the black kit so he asked them to wear the white one, which was even worse if truth be told, so, as was well within his right, he asked Newcastle to change their kit so that the match could go ahead!
Funnily enough Newcastle introduced a bog standard green and navy kit for the return fixture at Hillsborough later that season to avoid a repeat of the kit clashing issue!
February 13th, 2009 at 6:03 am
So that would mean the Yellow kit was the 4th kit and the white a 3rd strip, which would make sense chronologically.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
It would do, I’m just wondering if the yellow shirt “replaced” the white one as the designated third choice kit, and that the white kit is included here because it was actually used?
Hopefully someone can clear that up.
Come to think of it a repeat performance occurred in the 2000/01 season where Wednesday had that white away kit, but didn’t have a third kit to begin with. I’m sure they had to borrow a kit once for an away fixture, then introduced the green kit for one match, before finally introducing an official third kit in yellow as shown above.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I may be wrong Jon, but I think they wore that green kit in 2 or 3 matches – I seem to remember them wearing different shorts. I’ll check and get back.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Just checked, they wore the green kit at least twice in 00-01, gainst QPR & Gillingham, both times wearing black shorts. But I’m sure I’ve seen a photo of it with white shorts so that would make it three times.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
It seems we’re also missing the black-with-yellow-pinstripes away kit from ‘93-’94. Any reason why, John?
February 18th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Scratch that, I’ve reloaded and it’s turned up!!
February 19th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Sheffield Wednesday has recently had a regime change which has seen the unreasonable (to put it mildly) chairman and chief exec replaced by much more agreeable and popular individuals. Should there be a True Colours 3 produced at some point, I would fully expect the club’s full co-operation this time.
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Hello Dave – a few Wednesday fans have emailed to tell me that!! Thanks for the note – I do hope that maybe the Owls kits will see the light of day in print one day – with the blessing of the club. Cheers!
March 12th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Hi,
I am MHS sponsor in 1985-86. I am looking for a shirt to buy. In 86 I gave dozens away (fool), now imposable to find. Like to get one for my grandson !!!
March 17th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Jon, I am sure you have the 200o away top missing as I have it at home. It was a black shirt with white sleeves and down the sides of the shirt it had a red sanderson sponser and was designed by puma. I bought one myself and we wore in a few games in the millinium season http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1593755,00.html shows fans wearing it that season. Please let me know if you were aware of this shirt
March 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Hello Gavin, thanks for your message. I certainly wasn’t aware of that kit and can’t find any pictures of the side wearing it in action. Do you know what games it was worn in? Or better still have an image of the full strip? Cheers.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
that was a goalie top.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Thank you Mick! I must say, I did scour all resources for that season and couldn’t find any pics of the team wearing it.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Thank you Mick, I have been looking for images of this all over the net as I bought it off ebay and believed it to be a player top. The best thing is I was adament that I had seen us wear it but obvoiusly not (must be my age).
April 6th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I don’t think any of the goalkeepers wore it either, well at least in any competitive matches in the 99/00 season.
It was meant to be the second choice goalie shirt for use with the away strip, as the first choice goalie shirt was yellow with a black back in the same design. However I’d imagine the back was plain white and would have caused clashing problems with some teams, so a plain green shirt in the same design was used instead.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Unbelievable! You wren’t allowed to publish these?
Did any other clubs refuse permission?
Its a new regime now. Im sure permission would be granted.
April 13th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I’m not completely sure about this, but I think I remember seeing a photo from the late ’80s of us wearing a shirt (I’m assuming it was an away shirt) of the same type as the ‘87 to ‘89 home kits, but with thin purple stripes instead of blue.
Incidentally, was the sky blue third kit from 2001/2 ever worn? I assumed it was a training kit rather than a match kit.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
‘m thinking the purple on the photographs was due to the printed matter in magazines or something like that, I remember seeing photographs during that era of other blue-shirted teams wearing what seemed like a purple hue in some photographs.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Thanks for your message Tony – the whole Sheff Wed situation was a real shame. You never know, as you say, with a new regime the Owls kits may be published elsewhere yet!
June 4th, 2009 at 10:46 am
The Green 2000/01 kit was created mid season after Wednesday ended up playing in Tranmere’s (similar green) away kit for the match at Prenton Park. I think it was first used in a league cup match at Oldham the following week.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Yea im thinking the same phil, i remember buying it, but im sure it was only a training kit
June 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hi John. Outstanding website, thank you so much for the effort and details. There’s one kit which is missing though, from the cup runs of 1993, the yellow away kit with black pin stripes. Chelsea had excatly the same kit a season or so after.
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/Sheff-Wed-92-Away.jpg.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hello Andy, thanks for your kind words. Isn’t the kit you mean in the 4th row, 2nd from the right?
June 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Yeah that’s the one! I just thought there were more black stripes! Sorry for the confusion!
June 5th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I seem to remember an occasion wheen we had to change and wear an opponents’ shirt due to a clash. I think it was a night cup tie away at Bolton Wanderers. We wore a shiny gold shirt of theirs. It would be early to mid-nineties, when they were in the division below us. Anyone else remember that?
June 12th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Welcome all Owls fans!
June 12th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Hello Phil, I’m wondering whether that purple striped shirt you mentioned may just have been a bad photo with distorted colour? Incidentally I’d be keen for confirmation on that pale blue third kit – Phil, Andy, was it definitely a training kit? If you could let me know that would be much appreciated.
Owlin Wolf – I’ve had a dig around and although I can’t find any photo evidence Owls did play at Bolton in the League Cup in the 93-94 season (ended in a 1-1 draw) and in that season Bolton had an amber away kit. You may be right!
June 21st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
The evidence I would’ve had for that pale blue being a training kit would have been a copy of that season’s Owls Superstore catalogue. It’s possible I might still have it knocking around somewhere so I’ll keep my eyes open for it. I think if it had been a match shirt, I would’ve bought it.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
And yes, you probably are right about that purple striped kit I saw – probably a printing aberration.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Well done. Why wouldn’t they give you permission?
July 15th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hello Smyrna – I’ve no idea – I never got a straight answer re the refusal only that Mr Walker declined it. I’ve since realised (since being contacted by plenty of Owls fans) that this is not typical of the club.
September 4th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Will this be updated with the current home and away kit?
September 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hello Robbie, I’m still restructuring the site but yes, the Owls page will be updated shortly. What do you think of their new kits?
September 19th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I really like them john, big improvement in quality as well!!
September 20th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Can anyone help me out with my collection?
September 20th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
http://wednesdayshirtcollection.webs.com/
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Nice collection Robbie – you Owls fans really love your kits! Great stuff.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
i do prefer the proper traditional owls badge that puma resurected on the 96-99 shirts – the one used now does look like its stuck in a 1970’s time warp.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Is it possible to get hold of the white shorts and socks which were used for the 05/06 06/07 home kit aswell as the white shorts and socks that went with the 07/08 08/09 home kit. I know they werent sold in the club shop but i was just wondering if anyone has managed to get hold of a pair.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hi John, do you have any pictures or info on Goalkeeper shirts/Kits over the years?
December 9th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Hello Robbie, I’ve been working tentatively on goalie kits – huge amount of work though and once you get to the 90s a nightmare to illustrate due to all the lairy patterns. Watch this space though…
December 24th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Re: 37. Matt.
I don’t understand why they would have “needed” to issue the green fourth kit in 2000/01.
I mean, they had…
Home – blue and white.
Away – white.
Third – yellow.
Surely, they can’t have ALL clashed with anybody?
January 7th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I never understood the green kit either?? if you put sheffield wednesday 2000 into gettyimages.co.uk it shows us playing in it at gillingham and QPR (both in blue and white??)
February 17th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Anyone know what kit Wednesday used in 1929 ?
I have a pic of them in white shirts but i guess this is a change ?
April 29th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Hi,
What a great website. I have a few questions/ comments.
1993/4 – I think that we also wore a plain white shirt that season making it five in all. The reason being we used to (and may still do) hold the record for the number of different kits being worn in a season. I’m sure Mr Devlin will be able to confirm/correct me on this. I’d have to find a VHS player to play the 1993/4 season review on though.
I was at the game at Burnden Park when we wore their Gold strip. I’m not sure of the year though (I suppose this could be the 5th strip we wore in 1993/4).
The light blue strip was definitely a training kit when it was released because I remember not buying it for that reason. The team could have worn it though therefore effectively making it a third kit.
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Hello Richard B, thanks for your comments. I wasn’t aware of a plain white shirt as well in 93-94! I will investigate further, it would be quite something to have worn 5 different kits in one season. Any idea what game it was worn in? I have my doubts about my sources for that light blue strip now – can anyone confirm it was ever worn?
June 18th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Can someone tell how the away kits of Wednesday looked like during the 60-es and the first half of the 70-es?