Historical Football Kits

Irn Bru Scottish First Division 2011 - 2012

The financial gulf between the SPL and the top level of the Scottish Football League (SFL) is now so enormous that relegation from the SPL spells financial disaster. Under the proposed restructuring parachute payments would be increased considerably but the wider issue of how the rest of the clubs might benefit in what would become a 12-team "Championship" went away when the proposals were quietly dropped.

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

Ayr United

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Bodog Casinos

Ayr are sporting a completely new look this season, wearing halved shirts for the first time in their history. White shorts and socks have been registered with the SFL but black sets may be worn with the home strip if needed. The away kit is in Nike's "Park" template and could not be simpler. The club's new shirt sponsor has recently expanded its operations into China, hence the Chinese characters above their logo. Quite how this will work is unclear but Calvin Ayre, the billionaire behind Bodog, reckons he has roots in the town and intends to promote the team to make it a globally known name. Good luck with that then.

(Cameron Smith)

Dundee

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Kilmac Energy

Dundee comfortably survived in the First Division despite the 25-point penalty imposed last season when they went into administration over an unpaid tax bill. As a result HMRC and the club's non-football creditors had to be satisfied with 6p in the pound. It seems curious that the SFL allowed Dundee to retain their First Division status while Gretna and Livingston were demoted to the Third Division for entering administration. The lesson is clear: avoid administration during the close-season.

The team's new strips are complementary sets in Puma's latest template. The one-off kit worn on 28 April commemorates 50 years since the Dark Blues won the Scottish League title and serves as a reminder of just how could kits can look without all those commercial logos.

(Donald Gellatly)

Falkirk

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Central Demolition

Falkirk's strips are unchanged from last season.

Greenock Morton

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ferguson's Chocolates (Home), Buchanan's Toffees (Away), Millions Chews (Third)

The reintroduction of white shorts and retro collar gives the home outfit a close resemblance to the strips worn in the late 1970s when Morton were in the Premier Division. The away strip is again all-red while a yellow and blue third strip makes an appearance. The various shirt sponsors are all sweets produced in what was once a torpedo factory in Greenock.

(Alan Redman)

Hamilton Academical

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: M&H Logistics (Home), Life Skills Centres (Away, Third)

A new sponsor's logo and the addition of black trim on the hooped home shirt are all that distinguishes Accies' new home strip from last season's. THe away and third kits are unchanged but have new sponsorship.

(Alasdair MacNèill)

Livingston

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Fasteq

Supporters and the management team that took over before the club were controversially demoted to the Third Division in 2009 will feel vindicated as the team has risen straight back up through the league in just two seasons. In fact this is where they had expected to play after their relegation from the Premier League at the end of 2008-09.

The new kits are identical in design with white and navy replacing yellow and black on the away strip. The yoke is an unusual and attractive feature, introduced by Umbro this season.

(Alasdair MacNèill)

Partick Thistle

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: macb: Just Employment Law after 3 March

Just about every team that wears Puma this season is turning out in a variation on their King template but Partick take pride in wearing distinctive outfits. Plain yellow shirts have appeared in their back catalogue but only once with black shorts (1984-86) and never previously with pin stripes. They also have a new sponsor, a producer of flavoured water. The Puma King template is modified on the away kit with the addition of a pair of vertical red and yellow stripes.

A firm of employment law solicitors sponsored Thistle's shirts after the parent company of their original sponsor went into adminstration in February 2012.

(Peter Wilson, Alasdair MacNèill, BZ McKenna)

Queen of the South

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Border Utilities Ltd

Queen's new strips were chosen by fans in an on-line poll and, in a major departure, include a smart red and black away outfit to complement the usual blue and white home strip. Border Utilities won the annual sponsorship draw, which attracted 143 entries this season and raised over £57,000.

(Russel Campbell)

Raith Rovers

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Kitty's & Styx (H), acasports.co.uk (A)

Raith are wearing white shorts with their usual navy tops this season, having worn all-navy since 2006. They have ordered sets of navy blue shorts and socks as well, however, when there is a clash. The away strip is in "bench pink" and claret. Raith's retail partner, ACA Sports is donating £2 from every shirt sold to Maggie's Cancer Care Centre in Fife.

(Brendan Knight, Alasdair MacNèill)

Ross County

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: High Net Telecoms

The "Victory Game" template worn by Manchester United in 2009-10 is now part of Nike's regular catalogue and is appearing across the UK and in Europe. Ross County are one of a few clubs that are wearing shorts that match the shirts. Their new away kit is another off-the-peg Nike outfit.

(Alasdair MacNèill)