Historical Football Kits

Sky Bet Championship 2019 - 2020

The ever-increasing presence of shirt sponsorship by gambling businesses has become a matter of widespread concern, particularly given new research revealing growing numbers of young people gamblng online. This seems to have prompted two companies to take pre-emptive action. GVC Holdings, one of the world's largest sports betting and gaming groups has called on the industry to reduce its visibility at grass roots level and their businesses have "donated" their shirt sponsorship to a child cancer charity. Paddy Power seized on the issue to create a hoax and then removed their sponsorship altogether as part of a promotional campaign.

Another on-line gambling business, 32Red, added a line of text below their main logo type reading "Gamble Responsibly," "Never Chase Losses," or "Set Deposit Linits" whenever two of the teams they sponsored met.

Fixtures were suspended on 13 March due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. On 31 May the EFL announced that matches would resume on 20 June with the aim of completing the play-offs by the end of July. Matches were to be played behind closed doors with other safety measures put in place. In common with the Premier League clubs, teams wore NHS and Black Lives Matter emblems on their shirts after the resumption.

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Contributors are credited in brackets. Opinions expressed on this page are those of HFK and not contributors.

Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two

Barnsley

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: The Investment Room

Barnsley are back in the Championship after a brief absence. Although they are restricted to wearing a standard template, the advantage of partnering with Puma is that they will create bespoke prints in their fabrics. In this instance they have opted for a brickwork pattern intended to represent the "distinctive West Stand wall." It makes a change from representations of roof struts I suppose. The change strip looks as if someone has dumped a bucket of spaghetti on to it from a great height - presumably the top of the West Stand. The third strip is a bit of a triumph, modelled on the 1989-90 star strip. Unfortunately it is decorated with triangular tonal patterns rather than the white six-pointed stars of the original.

(Graham Siddons, Detenator Ninety)

Birmingham City

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Boyle Sports

The launch of the new "home" kit makes great play on the club's roots in the working class (their rivals had more genteel origins). I like the use of two shades of blue very much (the navy takes us back to their original colours) but I think the yellow trim is over-egging the pudding a tad and reminds me of some old Cardiff City outfits. Nevertheless, this is their most distinctive strip since 2015. The change strip is charcoal grey trimmed with white which is fine but the Campeon template has been chosen and I cannot understand why clubs select this design and then obscure the distinctive graphic with their sponsor's logo. In October the management decided this grey strip was unlucky and revived the yellow and blue outfit from last season.

(Harry Meadows, MMA, Daniel Mann)

Blackburn Rovers

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Bet 10

The latest Rovers top is the traditional halved design with an attractive shade of lightish blue. There are a couple of references to classic shirts from the seventies in the reversed insert at the collar and a flash of red at the cuffs. The striking alternative is in shades of grey with bright jade green trim and socks. The latest Umbro broken diamond motif occupies just half of the shirt, a neat reference to Blackburn's traditional design. Neither was considered suitable against Fulham where an indigo strip was introduced. This also picks up the half-and-half theme with a checkerboard effect on the left side of the shirt.

(Detenator Ninety, Roger Whiteside)

Brentford

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: EcoWorld

This will be the Bees' last season at Griffin Park. Work is progressing on their new community stadium and they plan to move next summer. Umbro have taken over from Adidas which is good news for those frustrated by the standard templates worn in recent years. And there are stripes on the back of the shirt since you ask but only at the bottom due to EFL regs that require a clear space for numbers and players' names. The blue shirt is a tribute to those worn in 1904 (although these were gold and blue) to be worn in the home game against Millwall, just shy of 115 years since they recorded their first ever win at Griffin Park against the East Londoners. (Replicas sold to the public do not have the EcoWorld sponsorship.)

(Detenator Ninety, Nick Bruzon)

Bristol City

Designer: Bristol Sport

Sponsor: Dunder

For their 125th anniversary the club has introduced a new crest, restoring the robin which has been the subject of a lengthy campaign by supporters. Unfortunately I'm led to believe the reaction has been a bit "meh." That's a shame because I rather like the simplicity of the new first strip (aside from the silly anklets). The design is echoed in the all-black alternative. The hideous mash-up shirt, made up of elements from nine different strips, was "designed" to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary. The should have baked a nice cake instead.

(Mark Leech, Detenator Ninety)

Cardiff City

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Visit Malaysia

The Bluebirds' stay in the Premier League was once again a brief one and they are going to have to be more strategic if the ambition to become established in the top tier is ever going to be realised. White shorts are reinstated for the first time since Vincent Tan had the team play in red and while it looks ok, it is just another standard Adidas template.

(Detenator Ninety, Isaac Hooper, Steven Thomas)

Charlton Athletic

Designer: Hummel

Sponsor: Children with Cancer UK

Charlton revealed their third kit before the others. It is described as "scuba and marine" and Hummel's signature chevrons are pale grey. Betdaq have donated their shirt sponsorship following the decision of their parent company, GVC, to call on the gambling industry to reduce its exposure in the game. The purple and green trim on the black outfit is a nod to some of the Charlton's past change strips.

(Al Gordon, Detenator Ninety)

Derby County

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: 32Red

The influence of the 90's is all too apparent this season, no doubt because those who were taken to games then as kids are now all grown up and have cash in their pockets. Derby's first shirt is "inspired by" the version worn in 1995-96, which is fair enough. However, the over excited children in the marketing department go on to tell us that the graphic design on the sleeves showcases the "iconic stanchions ...of Pride Park." Words fail me. The "Atomic Blue" change shirt has a graphic printed into the fabric made up of broken pieces of the Umbro logo. The third kit is a reversed version of the first choice.

(Andrew Edwards, Detenator Ninety, Mahdi Askor)

Fulham

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Dafabet

Apart from a little red trim at the crew neck and a faint geometrical graphic on the front of the shirt Fulham's new first shirt is totally forgettable. The alternative is in the new Adidas Stripes template which is irredeemably awful. The special edition shirt celebrates Fulham's 140th anniversary and combines the design of their first ever top with their modern colours. This is to be worn by the team just once in a pre-season match while 1,879 shirts will be sold to suppporters. One question here. When did 140 years become a thing?

(Pablo Aceituno, Matthew Woodgate)

Huddersfield Town

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: (Paddy Power)

The Terriers finished a distant last in the Premier League so out goes the terrier badge in favour of a more traditional crest. Controversy surrounded the initial kit launch that featured their new sponsor's name on an oversize sash in clear breach of rules governing the size of logos. After generating a huge amount of free publicity it was revealed the strip was a hoax intended to launch the bookmakers' "Save Our Shirts" campaign that involved "de-sponsoring" football shirts. Time will tell if this is anything more than a clever publicity stunt. The club, incidentally was charged with misconduct by the FA but I imagine Paddy Power will be happy to cover any fine they may incur.

The strips, by the way, look very good to me. The third strip is "Fiery Coral."

(Detenator Ninety)

Hull City

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Sport Pesa

Hull have been well served by Umbro in recent years but this may be the crowning glory. Inspired by the wonderfully awful tiger print shirts from the early 90s, the new "home" shirt is decorated with tiger stripes across the upper chest and is both original and distinctive. Fans will also be delighted that the owner, Dr Allam, has relented and the new crest once again features the club's name. Strictly speaking Hull don't really need a third kit but they always have one and they are generally interesting. The new one is officially "Deep Lagoon and Medieval Blue" with amber trim.

(Mark Alden, Steven Thomas, Detenator Ninety)

Leeds United

Designer: Kappa

Sponsor: 32Red

This is Leeds' centenary season and to mark it the familiar plain white strip is trimmed with "platinum" and there are some changes to the club crest. The change strip is platinum with shocking pink trim. You have to hand it to Leeds: they have managed to turn offending their support into a fine art. After the Gaviscon badge fiasco they have introduced kits for their centenary that make no reference to their heritage. The special edition centenary kit features a Yorkshire rose embossed into the front of the shirt as well as sublimated logos.

(Martin Hart, Oliver Hardy, Matthew Wharmby)

Luton Town

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Indigo Residential, Star Platforms, Ryebridge Construction

Luton's rise from the National League has been spectacular and we can say the same about this season's strips. Inspiration is taken from the various colours worn by the team over the past 135 years and there is a neat colour-block on the shirt tail illustrating these graphically. With different sponsors on each shirt we can expect several unforced changes when the team travel.

(Alasdair Gibbs-Barton, Jamie Walker)

Middlesbrough

Designer: Hummel

Sponsor: 32Red

Middlesbrough have form when it comes to passing off standard templates as being inspired by something historical but this time we have the real McCoy. Hummel have created a bespoke shirt based on a popular design from 30 years ago and paired it with a white, navy and red alternative that includes a novel take on 'Boro's iconic chest band.

(John McAleer, Steven Thomas, David King)

Millwall

Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Huski Chocolate

Lewisham Council have abandoned their attempt to compulsorarily purchase land around the Den and the club are now preparing their own plan to develop the surrounding area. White sleeves have featured in the kit hamper before but always when the preferred colour was royal blue. Since Macron are supplying these, there is a twist in the form of graded trim. The change strip is proving very popular. It harks back to the late 1980s and also has a grade effect on the shirt.

(Detenator Ninety, Joe Finnan)

Nottingham Forest

Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Football Index

The switch from Adidas to Macron offers the prospect of more individual strips and the first effort shows promise. A traditional red/white/red affair, there is a subtle diamond effect created by vertical lines in variable widths. My only criticism is that the club have yet another gambling sponsor, this time one that offers "shares" in players. Blue and navy looks quite good on the alternative but I'm not sure about the red and white trimmings. The special edition shirt commemorates Forest's first European Cup win in 1979 and has the names of the team printed into the right side. 1,979 boxed shirts (without sponsorship) were made available to supporters. They were worn in pre-season matches as shown in the graphic.

(Detenator Ninety, Phil Konan)

Preston North End

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: 32Red

Hooped socks have become the signature look for North End and they do look good but this season the design is rather different to previous seasons. The trim on the white shirts is claimed to be exclusive to the club but of course it isn't. The green and yellow kit featured in several notable away wins last term so it is retained. The club announced that the new change strip would be all-red but after listening to supporters, who were unhappy with the decision it was decided to stay with yellow.

(John Smith, Detenator Ninety, David Wilding, Graham Riding, Mahdi Askor)

Queens Park Rangers

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Royal Panda/BetUK.com

Errea have come up with a couple of crackers for QPR this season. The traditional broad hoops are nicely set off by a white wing collar and subtle gold trimmings. The change strip is aqua blue trimmed with silver grey and has gold applications. The third strip is held over from last season.

In January Royal Panda announced they were to withdraw from the UK market. A UK based online bookmaker replaced them as shirt sponsor.

(Detenator Ninety, Joseph Harrigan)

Reading

Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Casumo

The Royals have a new kit partner and a new sponsor but the wide hoops remain and quite right too. On close inspection these turn out to be made up of horizontal bands in two shades of blue. I think the overall effect is spoilt by the red trim which makes the kit too busy. The change strip is black with burgundy trim and hoops made up of fragments of the crown that features in the club crest.

(Simon Wise, William Bliss)

Sheffield Wednesday

Designer: Elev8

Sponsor: Chansiri, Elev8

There is an interesting pixelated effect on the shirts that is meant to evoke the 8-bit era of video gaming. The replica shirts went on sale in late July without any sponsorship and they were worn this way in the opening fixture. It was not long, however, before Wednesday's chairman put his own branding on the shirts.

(Santiago Vara, Daniel Mann)

Stoke City

Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Bet365

The striped "home" shirt is firmly traditional and purists will be pleased that the stripes extend to the back of the shirt. The alternative provides all the contrast you could ask for with bright orange applications to offset the funereal look.

(Detenator Ninety)

Swansea City

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Yobet

Fifty years ago Swansea was awarded city status and to celebrate this, the phrase, "Oh City Said I," is printed inside the waist of the shirts. Otherwise the white strip is fairly standard but the change strip is both complicated and flamboyant. The yellow strip has the original badge of Swansea Town AFC: remarkably this is the first time this has ever appeared on the team shirts.

(Detenator Ninety, Emyr Thomas, Ben Gershaw)

West Bromwich Albion

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ideal Boilers

The Throstles reached the play-offs last term but must spend at least another season in the Championship. The new striped shirt blends tradition with modernity but I'm not sure about the mottled effect on the sleeves. Retro hooped socks always look good with striped tops though. Yellow and green is an old favourite that was revived last season and makes a welcome return in the change strip. It's hard to imagine why a purple kit is needed.

(Simon Nelson, MMA,Detenator Ninety)

Wigan Athletic

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: KB88

Wigan have once again had a rummage through the dressing up box and come up with a re-creation of their 2003 strip. The alternative has an interesting geometrical design printed into the shirt.

(Detenator Ninety)