True Colours Football Kits

Mix and Mismatch – by Denis Hurley

Posted by John Devlin

I was delighted when friend of the site Denis Hurley mentioned contributing an article around one of his pet hates concerning football kit design and sent in this great feature. Denis is a freelance sports journalist in Ireland who has an unhealthy obsession with football kits.

It is often odd when you think back to the things you did when you were a little boy. When I was eight years old, at the beginning of the 1992-93 season, clearly following real football was not enough to satisfy me, and so I created an imaginary club. Where I, being from Ireland, got the name ‘Clydeonian’ from I’ll never know (I always took an interest in Caledonian Thistle after I heard of them a few years later), and my method of squad selection was probably not the best either.

Basically, I started off with a team comprised of players whose Pro-Set cards I had, meaning a strikeforce of Paul Merson and Owen Archdeacon, though I allowed myself to sign Dragan Stojkovic when I realised Andy May (of Bristol City in real life) was not up to the standard required of a team chasing a fantasy championship. You’re probably wondering why such meanderings are appearing on a site dedicated to kits. Well, you see, even back then I held the same principles towards kits that I still do.

In my head, and on numerous sheets of paper spent drawing goals from games, Clydeonian wore an adidas kit. It was a mixture of what France and Rangers wore at the time, with the three stripes over either shoulder, two red and one white, with white shorts and blue socks with red tops. The away was exactly the same design, only white where the blue was, blue where red was and red where white was, with blue shorts and white socks, with the third following the same rules, red the main colour. And this is the point I am trying to make – I like it when clubs have a set of kits where the shorts and socks can be properly mixed and matched, as the club’s identity is retained no matter what kit is worn as all the colours are there.

Manchester United’s strips in 1996-97 were classics in this regard, the shorts and socks exactly the same design, with the kits worn in many different variations.

To a lesser extent, United’s kits two seasons ago also matched up to that criteria, with the home and away kits both using the same pair of black socks as first choice. However, consider United’s offerings from 2006-07.

The home was the usual red/white/black, with gold trim on the shirt and shorts. The away was white, with black shorts and white socks, gold appearing all though as well. Red, often a trim on white United aways, was missing from the kit unless there was a sock clash, as at West Ham that season, where the home socks jarred with the rest of the kit. And that is what annoys me (and sometimes I worry that niggling little things like this irritate me far too much and I should get out more) – when a prominent colour in a side’s home kit, or one very close to it, is featured on the away kit, only paired with a different colour. Take Everton’s away outfits from 2006-07 until last season. All white shirts, but all with navy or black shorts, as opposed to royal blue, last featured prominently on a Toffees’ away in 04-05, when plenty mixing and matching occurred.

As I am Arsenal fan, let’s take a look at the Gunners’ three kits from 07-08.

The home was the one launched a year previous, classic red with white sleeves and white shorts and socks, with gold trim on the shirt. Gold was also the third colour on the new away and navy and redcurrant hooped third, the only colour to feature on all three kits. White was on the home and away, with redcurrant on the away and third, with red confined to the home and navy, the tertiary colour on many an Arsenal home, only on the third kit. Despite the fact that colours appeared on more than one kit, there was no mixing and matching. This meant that four different pairs of shorts were used (regular white home, recurrant away and navy third as well as white change away shorts at Sheffield United in the Carling Cup) and five different sock designs (white and red with the home kit, redcurrant and white hoops and plain redcurrant with the away and redcurrant and navy with the third). You can’t help but feel that, with a little more thought from Nike, the away would have been trimmed in red with red shorts and socks, paving the way to mix and match.

Let me point out, however, that I’m not calling for all teams to have aways that reverse their homes, I love yellow and blue Arsenal away kits, but when things are so near and yet so far, the lack of foresight seems silly.

The Kit Cupboard – New Zealand Home Kit 2008-09

Posted by John Devlin

With all the fuss surrounding Ireland’s controversial failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup it may have escaped people’s notice that a small country at the bottom of the world have qualified for their first World Cup since Spain 1982. Yes, thanks to a 1–0 win over Bahrain, New Zealand’s ‘All Whites’ (would it have been better to have them play in black like their famous rugby counterparts, or is that too sacred?) will be in South Africa next year.

Their kit for the qualifying campaign was the standard Nike template worn in yellow as Fulham’s third kit last season. The sharp eyed amongst you will also recognise it as the design I chose for the official Nike ‘True Colours’ shirt, so obviously its a favourite design of mine.

With most of my family now living in New Zealand I will certainly be cheering the All Whites next year.

Worn in: The Asia/Oceania World Cup play-off 1–0 win over Bahrain. The winning goal scored by Plymouth Argyle’s Rory Fallon.
Worn by: Ivan Vicelich, Ben Sigmund, Tim Brown.

The Kit Cupboard – Scotland Away Kit 1946–49 (Lord Roseberry colours)

Posted by John Devlin

Scotland are known throughout the world for their navy shirts, soon to be revamped courtesy of the SFA’s deal with adidas. But throughout the 1880s, 1890s and the first decade of the 1900s they also occasionally sported a different home strip of pink and amber (officially known as ‘primrose’) hoops – the racing colours of racehorse owner Archibald Philip Primrose, Lord Roseberry, who was an early patron of the game north of the border in the late 1880s.

The unique colour combination was resurrected as a change strip (illustrated) after World War 2 when it made a handful of appearances. Contrary to popular opinion, as far as I can see, the kit’s last appearance was not in 1951 but actually 1949 against France at Hampden Park.

Results were pretty good in the Roseberry colours and I for one would love to see it brought back as a Scotland change strip by adidas. As well as its individuality it would bring tradition and pride back to the Scotland side as it rebuilds after failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Worn in: The 1949 2–0 win over France.
Worn by: Willie Waddell, George Aitken and Billy Steel.

The Kit Cupboard – Liverpool Change Home 1983-84

Posted by John Devlin

All this recent talk of change shorts/socks bought to mind a rather bizarre mismatch of a kit that Liverpool wore back in the 83-84 season against Watford. The Hornets’ yellow shirts, red shorts and red socks clashed with both Liverpool’s home outfit and their all-yellow away. Instead the club paired their home shirt with the yellow away socks and the black shorts from their previous away kit. Quite why they didn’t opt to resurrect their previous white/black away kit in its entirety is a mystery as it certainly would’ve looked better than this combination!

The all-red Liverpool kit is pretty much untouchable and this was, as far as I’m aware, the only time thire red shirt has been worn with anything other than its traditional red shorts and socks.

Worn in: The aforementined away game at Watford in the 83–84 season. The match ended in a 2–0 win for Liverpool.
Worn by: Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness, Sammy Lee.

Queens Park Rangers Kits

Posted by John Devlin

QPR have one of the most exciting kit histories going in my opinion with some quality designs that mostly stick with traditional colour schemes.

When two or more sponsors appear on the same kit in different seasons I have illustrated each season’s kit separately.

The Kit Cupboard – Football League Centenary Classic 1987

Posted by John Devlin

The Football League marked its 100th birthday in 1988 with a series of special events and matches. The celebrations kicked off in 1987 with the Football League Centenary Classic match that saw a Football League XI playing a World XI at Wembley. The World side was captained by Diego Maradona making his first major appearance in England since the infamous ‘hand of God’ incident at Mexico 86.

As suppliers of the national team Umbro won the deal to kit out both sides and opted for these two designs; the Football League XI in white and blue and the World XI in all red. Football League badges appeared on each sleeve and on the shorts with the League side’s shirt sponsored by Mercantile Credit who also backed the Centenary Tournament the following year.

The match, attended by a disappointing 61,000 crowd, ended up in a 3-0 win for the Football League XI with goals from Bryan Robson (2) and Norman Whiteside. Full team line ups were:

Football League XI
Manager: Bobby Robson (England)

1 Peter Shilton (Derby & England)
2 Richard Gough (Tottenham & Scotland)
3 Kenny Sansom (Arsenal & England)
4 McClelland (Watford & N Ireland)
5 Paul McGrath (Man Utd & Rep of Ireland)
6 Liam Brady (West Ham Utd & Rep of Ireland)
7 Bryan Robson capt. (Man Utd & England)
8-Neil Webb (Nott’m Forest)
9-Clive Allen (Tottenham & England)
10-Peter Beardsley (Liverpool & England)
11-Chris Waddle (Tottenham & England)

Subs:
16-Norman Whiteside (Man Utd & N Ireland) for Allen 45
13-Steve Ogrizovic (Coventry) for Shilton 60 min
15-Pat Nevin (Chelsea & Scotland) for Brady 67 min
14-Ossie Ardiles (Tottenham & Argentina) for Webb 76 min
17-Alan Smith (Arsenal) for Beardsley 83 min

World XI
Manager: Terry Venables (Barcelona)

1-Dasayev (Spartak Moscow & USSR)
2-Josimar (Botafogo & Brazil)
3-Celso (Porto & Brazil)
4-Julio Alberto (Barcelona & Spain)
5-Hysen (Fiorentina & Sweden)
6-Bagni (Napoli & Italy)
7-Berthold (Verona & W Germany)
8-Lineker (Barcelona & England)
9-Platini (France)
10-Maradona capt. (Napoli & Argentina)
11-Futre (Atletico Madrid & Portugal)

Subs:
18-Zubizarreta (Barcelona & Spain) for Dassayev 45 min
15-Elkjaer (Verona & Denmark) for Lineker 45 min
12-Detari (Eintracht Frankfurt & Hungary) for Josimar 61 min
14-Larsson (IFK Gothenburg & Sweden) for Celso 70 min
13-Belanov (Dynamo Kiev & USSR) for Bagni 70 min
17-Stojkovic (Red Star Belgrade & Yugoslavia) for Platini 70 min
16-Zavarov (Dynamo Kiev & USSR) for Futre 83 min

Guest of Homour: Pele

The Kit Cupboard Special – Admiral in the 70s

Posted by John Devlin

Anyone who follows football kit history will be aware of the massive impact Leicester-based sportswear firm Admiral had on kit development, design and innovation in the 1970s.

Pioneers of the replica market through deals with the England and Leeds United teams, Admiral brought their shirts into the every playground in the land. Their bold, some might say brash, designs were instantly recognisable – helped no doubt by the liberal sprinking of Admiral logos on sleeves, shorts, socks and even collars.

I wanted to pay tribute to the company who virtually invented the modern kit.

This is a selection of Admiral kits from their golden era of the second half of the 1970s. Many, if not all, of these kits went through minor cosmetic changes during their lifespan; trim changes, new socks, movement of badges etc. but virtually all are now iconic additions to each club’s kit canon.

If you have information of any additional Admiral kits from the 70s (e.g. early Leeds, early Sheff Utd,Bradford, Dundee) not illustrated here then please contact me and I will add them over time.

: Aberdeen Home Kit 1976-79

: Aberdeen Away Kit 1976-77

: Aberdeen Away Kit 1977-78

: Aberdeen Away Kit 1978-79

: Bolton Wanderers Home Kit 1976-77

: Bolton Wanderers Away Kit 1976-77

: Bradford City Home Kit 1978-81

: Bradford City Away Kit 1978-81

: Coventry City Home Kit 1975-81

: Coventry City Away Kit 1975-78

: Coventry City Third Kit 1975-81

: Coventry City Away Kit 1978-81

: Crystal Palace Home Kit 1977-80

: Crystal Palace Away Kit 1977-80

: Crystal Palace Third Kit 1978-80

: Dundee Home Kit 1976-80

: Dundee Away Kit 1976-80

: England Home Kit 1974-80

: England Away Kit 1974-81

: England Third Kit 1976

: Leeds United Home Kit 1973-76

: Leeds United Away Kit 1973-74

: Leeds United Home Kit 1976-81

: Leeds United Away Kit 1974-81

: Leicester City Home Kit 1976-79

: Leicester City Away Kit 1976-79

: Leicester City Third Kit 1976-79

: Luton Town Home Kit 1974-79

: Luton Town Away Kit 1974-79

: Manchester United Home Kit 1975-80

: Manchester United Away Kit 1975-80

: Manchester United Third Kit 1975-80

: Motherwell Home Kit 1978-79

: Motherwell Away Kit 1976-78

: Norwich City Home Kit 1976-81

: Norwich City Away Kit 1976-81

: Oxford United Home Kit 1977-80

: Oxford United Away Kit 1979-80

: Orient Home Kit 1977-80

: Orient Away Kit 1977-80

: Portsmouth Home Kit 1978-79

: Sheffield United Home Kit 1975-76

: Sheffield United Away Kit 1975-77

: Sheffield United Home Kit 1977-79

: Sheff Utd a 77-79

: Southampton Home Kit 1976-80

: Southampton Home Kit 1976-80

: Tottenham Hotspur Home Kit 1977-80

: Tottenham Hotspur Away Kit 1977-80

: Wales Home Kit 1976-80

: Wales Away Kit 1976-80

: West Ham United Home Kit 1976-80

: West Ham United Away Kit 1976-80

Thanks to John Bailey, Andy Burton, Chris Oakley, John O’Cahan, Mike Reid and Steve Dickie. Extra special thanks to Steve Browne.

The Kit Cupboard – Luton Town Home Kit 2009-10

Posted by John Devlin

Like many football fans of my age I was sad to see Luton Town leave the Football League at the end of 08-09, they have certainly been a part of the football landscape I am familiar with. The club will start their non-league life with a fresh start kit-wise in the shape of this new Carbrini outfit. The kit raised eyebrows as it is sees the club’s regular white shirts relegated to a change strip with orange (last worn regularly in the 70s, although it was sported in the 99-00 season) promoted to first choice. Could this change in colour have anything to do with the arrival of Easyjet, long time inhabitants at nearby Luton Airport, as new shirt sponsors? Its not a bad looking design although inevitably it will draw comparisons to Carbrini’s orange Blackpool shirt.

The Kit Cupboard – Carlisle United Away Kit 1995–97

Posted by John Devlin

There have been numerous incidences of shirt sponsors influencing the colour schemes of club kits but none perhaps as blatant and eye-catching as the Eddie Stobart sponsored Carlisle United away kit from 1995-97. The Stobart Group (as the company is now known), a road haulage/distribution/warehousing company who had moved to Carlisle in 1976, actually commenced the shirt deal in 1995 and it was obviously decided to start the relationship with a bang. Therefore the Carlisle side appeared in change jerseys (manufactured by the little known Red Fox company) that mirrored the iconic livery of the Eddie Stobart trucks. It was a genius, although controversial move, as toys and collectables branded with the Stobart Group’s instantly recognisable corporate palette of green, red and amber (with a healthy dash of white) were massively popular at the time – ensuring massive publicity and exposure for the club who were then newly promoted to Division 2. A brave initiative highlighting the close bond between a world famous company and its local team – or a financial sell-out that destroys the integrity and heritage of the club? Opinion will always be divided athough it should be noted that The Stobart Group’s sponsorship of Carlisle continues to this day.

Worn in: The 95–96 relegation season…and the 96–97 promotion season! Plus, the dramatic 96–97 Auto Windscreens Trophy Final penalty shoot-out win over Colchester United.
Worn by: Rory Delap, Matt Jansen and Lee Peacock.

The Kit Cupboard – England Third Kit 1976

Posted by John Devlin

Although we all know England in white, red and occasionally blue (or even grey!) it is very rare to see them in yellow but it has happened on a few occasions, most recently during the 1976 USA Bicentennial Cup where they wore this Admiral outfit. The Bicentennial Cup was a friendly tournament celebrating the anniversary of American Independence and featured England, Brazil, Italy and a Team America side (captained by England legend Bobby Moore and including Pele) in a handful games across the states. This all-yellow England kit was adorned with Admiral logo and England badge but otherwise was a rather plain, and thanks to the very pale yellow, an insipid affair. To be honest, it was a mystery why it was even worn as both England’s kits provided adequate colour options. Whatever the reasons, England have never been seen in yellow since.
Worn in: A 3–1 win over the Team America side – the only time the strip was worn (although the socks did make a reappearance in the game against Brazil). Unlike their Brazilian and Italian counterparts, the English FA treated the match only as a training game and did not award caps.
Worn by: Gerry Francis, who captained England in the match.