Historical Football Kits

Coca Cola Championship 2008 - 2009

The second tier of English football is regarded by many as a more exciting and open competition than the Premiership, dominated as it is by the big clubs and big money. Promotion and relegation have ensured that many local rivalries will be renewed this season with a remarkable number of derbies due to take place in South Wales, Sheffield/South Yorkshire, East Anglia, the West and East Midlands, as well as London.

Barnsley

Designer: Lotto

Sponsor: Barnsley Building Society

There's not a great deal of difference between this season's kit made by Lotto and the Surridge effort from last year. But then Barnsley are a club with a strong sense of tradition and the supporters would certainly grumble if the players turned out in anything too different. The club's website describes the new shirts as being true Barnsley red - as opposed to some sort of namby-pamby southerner's red presumably. The away kit is in all-black, a highly popular choice for 2008-09. The third kit, a reversed version of the home kit, was launched at the end of October.

Thank you Mark Davies, Daz Greenfield, Oliver Kukolj and Graham Siddons.

Birmingham City

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: F&C Investments

After reviving the fondly remembered "penguin strip" last season, Umbro took their inspiration for Birmingham's new kit from the all-blue outfit worn in the latter part of the Sixties. The broad panel motif wais retained in the away kit although this style, in white and red, is associated more with Ajax of Amsterdam than Birmingham.

Last season's all-red third kit was pressed into service again when City visited Sheffield Wednesday.

Thanks to Nicholas Eames and Luke Conboy.

Blackpool

Designer: Carlotti

Sponsor: Floors 2 Go (Aug-Sept), Carbrini Sportswear (from October)

Blackpool's home and away kits are unchanged from last season but, after Floors 2 Go went into administration just as the season opened, the club sought a new shirt sponsor. The launch of their new third kit was postponed as a result. In October a deal with the ubiquitous Carbrini Sportswear company was finally announced and the new strips launched.

Blackpool wore white shirts and shorts at Wolves on 22 November.

Reported by Jonathon Whitehead, Michael Capwell and Tom Howcroft.

Bristol City

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: DAS Insurance

Since Puma took over as Bristol City's kit provider in 2006, they have produced basic variations on the red shirts and white shorts theme. The current set is consistent with tradition, if uninspiring. The away kit is a reversed version of the home kit with interchangeable elements, so Bristol can turn out in all-white or all-red when necessary. This season sees the return of the DAS Legal Insurance group as main shirt sponsor. City join the legions of sides who turn up in black when away from home.

Iain Badboy reported the third kit.

Burnley

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Holland's Pies

Errea's latest design for the Turf Moor club has a traditional look to it and features a discrete panel down the right hand side of the body and shorts, which is edged with a gold seam. The club's claret and blue colours now also feature in their change kit.

Cardiff City

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Vansdirect.co.uk

For their last season at Ninian Park Cardiff adopt a novel kit to mark the occasion. Designed by Joma, who have turned out some radical designs this year, the main colour is taken from a swatch of an original shirt worn in the 1927 FA Cup final and trimmed with yellow and white. Like last season's popular change kit, the trim is not symmetrical. The Welsh flag is sewn onto each sleeve and the words The End of an Era at Ninian Park (1910-2009) embroidered on the yellow shirt tails. The colour of the new away kit is officially described as "mulberry wine" and featured breathable white mesh side panels small mesh slits on the upper body.

The stockings worn with City's all-blue alternate kit do not quite match the colour of the shirts and shorts. The third kit appeared for the first time at Burnley in December, the dark blue home and mulberry second choice shirts both clashing with Burnley's claret and blue tops. In January an all-yellow version was worn at Birmingham City.

Thanks to Colin Price, Oliver Kukolj, Chris Bailey, Zak Nelson, Luke Conboy and Toffee Mad.

Charlton Athletic

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Carbrini Sportswear

Spanish designers Joma have come up with a pair of stunning kits for Charlton this season. The home outfit in traditional red and white features an abstract geometric pattern that is unique while the elegant change kit carries a red and black band across the upper chest. The club's new shirt sponsor is a brand of JD Sports.

Paul Clayton alerted HFK to these kits.

Coventry City

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Cassidy Group (Home), StadiArena (Away)

Coventry habitually change their kit every season and 2008-09 is no exception. At home the team will play in stripes once again, this time edged with fine navy blue piping. A new badge is featured to mark the club's 125th anniversary. The new away kit is all-black with pale gold trimmings.

In December the club announced that 1,125 chocolate shirts would go on sale to mark the club's 125th anniversary, inspired by the Admiral kit worn in the 1970s. The kit will be worn once, in Coventry's final league game of the season.

Thanks to Richard Tomlinson.

Crystal Palace

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: GAC Logistics

After last season's debacle, Palace have consulted their supporters over their choice of kit for the new campaign. Not surprisingly, the fans voted overwhelmingly for a return of the iconic white kit with a diagonal red/blue sash. Designers Errea have even revived the sleeve trim with repeated logos that was the height of fashion in the late 1970s to complete the retro "Life on Mars" effect.

Derby County

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Bombardier

After last season's disastrous campaign in the Premier League, Derby fans will be hoping for better things in the Championship. A new home kit emphasises the team's hopes of a fresh start. The away kit is a version of the new adidas template in fluorescent yellow, a popular choice this season. Printing the sponsor's logo in white in these yellow tops renders it practically invisible. (These shirts were described as "slime green" on the official website on 30 August - either the club has developed a sense of humour or someone is going to get their P45 on Monday morning.)

The third kit is a reintepretation of a change kit used during the club's salad days in the mid 1970s.

Reported by Konark Sikka (Home), Jon Jones, Andy Gallagher, David Taylor, Richard Worth (Away) and Mark Wild (third).

Doncaster Rovers

Designer: Vandanel

Sponsor: Wright Investments

Doncaster make their appearance in the second tier following a dramatic play-off final victory over Leeds. Wisely the club has not changed the kit that brought them success and which sold in considerable numbers towards the end of last season. A close inspection reveals that Vandanel have replaced Carlotti as manufacturer but otherwise the strip is hardly different to last season. The third kit is Rovers' change strip from last season similarly rebranded. (In fact the blue and white third kit appeared more often than the official change kit.) The green and white kit was used against Crystal Palace on 25 April and then auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the NSPCC.

Thanks to Martyn Bentley, Jon Jones and Chris Worrall.

Ipswich Town

Designer: Mitre

Sponsor: Marcus Evans

Ipswich have a new sponsor for 2008-09 but otherwise their home kit is unchanged. A new all-red change strip replaces last season's white and navy outfit.

Submitted by Chris Bailey.

Norwich City

Designer: Xara

Sponsor: Aviva Insurance Group

Xara have produced their fifth kit in seven years for Norwich and come up with a more restrained outfit that dispenses with the black trimmings evident in recent years. The result is a clean looking kit with a motif repeated at collar, cuff and waist that works rather well. Norwich have gone for the popular all-black look for their away kit.

To celebrate the 50th anniversay of their famous FA Cup run, Norwich played their Third Round game in a replica of the strip worn in 1958-59.

Thanks to Philip Ribbons, Barry Clare and Josh Petch.

Nottingham Forest

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Capital One

Forest celebrate their return to the second tier with a traditional looking outfit with some interesting detailing. The badge now features two silver stars to commemorate the club's two European Cup wins and has the names of the stadia arranged around it in silver script. Inside the shirt hem is a quotation from the great Brian Clough that reads, "How did we win it? We were very good, it's as simple as that." The away and third kits are unchanged from last season.

Home kit details from Stephen Toogood & Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Fernández. Andy Strumnik confirmed details of the away and third kit.

Plymouth Argyle

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ginsters Pies

Seven years ago the Plymouth board decided to define a shade of dark green, dubbed "Argyle Green" to be used in future kits. To this we can now add "Tangergreen," a tone first used a couple of seasons ago and now revived on the club's second choice of shirts. I am led to believe that this colour, popular with supporters, is a homage to manager Paul Sturrocks who was previously employed by Dundee United. The new away kit features Puma's "vampire neckline." What more could anyone ask.

Thanks to Craig Morris, Ed Murray and Zak Davies.

Preston North End

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Enterprise

North End fans with memories that go back to the late Fifties and early Sixties will experience a sharp stab of nostalgia when viewing the new home kit, which is clearly inspired by the outfit worn when Proud Preston were last a power in the land. Last season's red away kit is replaced by a smart all-yellow strip with navy sleeves. The home kit wwas worn with white shorts when North End visited Wolves on 10 January.

Thank you Paul Barnes and Michael Capwell.

Queen's Park Rangers

Designer: Lotto

Sponsor: Gulf Air

QPR have frequently paired blue shorts with their hooped tops as their first choice for the first time, the more familiar white shorts are reserved for away games when shorts clash. The club's third choice kit is a fashionable all-black affair with gold trimmings in a typical Lotto template, worn with black or gold shorts. The new look is augmented by a new club crest, replacing the stylised monogramme used for the last 25 years.

Reported by Toffee Mad, Jon Grossman, Mark Wild, Kyle Forward, Simon Ståål, and Chris Bailey.

Reading

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Waitrose

Having been relegated from the Premiership last season, Reading return to their traditional white shorts for the new season, combined with plain white sleeves as worn in the late 1970s. The shirts have a subtle metallic gold trim to commemorate ten years at the Madejski Stadium. Last season's funereal grey and black change kit is replaced by a considerably brighter orange and blue set.

Thanks to Konark Sikka, Stephen Toogood and Simon Ståål.

Sheffield United

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Fly Malta.com

United's latest home kit was designed by Ben Frost, a season ticket holder at the club. The red stripes feature a fine interference pattern that does not transfer well to web format. The all-black away kit was chosen by the players while last season's pale lime green change outfit is retained as the team's third kit for the new season.

The black away shirts were worn with the white alternate home shorts at least once.

Midway through the season the sponsor's logo was redesigned on a black background to make it more visible.

I'm grateful to Adam Ellerington and Andy Mason for the background details. Simon Ståål spotted the away kit variant.

Sheffield Wednesday

Designer: Lotto

Sponsor: Plusnet Broadband

Wednesday's new away kit is considerably more sobre than the orange affair worn last season, (which is retained as third choice). Chosen by supporters who voted through the club's website, the original design featured blue and yellow trimmings and these were changed to blue and navy to avoid any resemblance to Leeds.

The home kit is unchanged but Lotto's logos are now scattered all over the place. Rikki Hill tells us that fans prefer the team to wear shirts with a blue stripe in the centre as a central white stripe is believed to be unlucky. They're a superstitious lot in 't' Sheffield.

Thanks to Graham Butler, Rikki Hill and Mark Wild.

Southampton

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Flybe.com

In recent years the Saints have marketed their kits under their own brand but for the 2008-09 season, they have turned to Umbro. The new home kit is in traditional style down to the hooped stockings that recall the kits worn by the teams in the early sixties. The away kit is a very contemporary effort in blue-grey with discrete red and white trim.

Thanks to Daniel Mágés for the home kit. Rich Wrigley sent in details of the new away kit. Simon Ståål spotted the grey and red kit, Mike Capewell the alternate home strip.

Swansea City

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Swansea.com

Promoted as League One champions last season, Swansea retain their traditional all-white kit with black trimmings but have changed their manufacturer from Macron to Umbro. The new away kit is an interesting combination of navy blue and flint grey.

For their FA Cup fifth round tie against Fulham, Swansea wore shirts sponsored by Irish bookmakers, Paddy Power: funds generated from the sale of the match-worn shirts were donated to NSPCC Cymru/Wales.

Thanks to Juliette Smith for details of the home kit.

Watford

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Beko

Watford's new home kit is reminiscent of the those worn in the early Eighties but is worn with black rather than red shorts. The away kit remains all-red with updated trim. When necessary, the red away shorts were worn with the yellow home shirts.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Chaucer Consulting

Wolves stick to tradition with warm old gold shirts, set off by black trim and white piping. The new away kit is, on the other hand, a thoroughly modern creation in black with "neon" trimmings that has apparently been approved by the fans' "parliament." The black shirts were worn with gold shorts at Watford (25 October).

Thanks to Josue Meza, David Lane, Geoff Bell, Michael Capwell and Karl Stringer.