Historical Football Kits

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League 2012 - 2013

The financial catastrophe and allegations of cheating that overwhelmed Rangers at the end of last season presented the SPL with a seemingly insoluble dilemma. Several members clubs emphasised the necessity of maintaining the integrity and reputation of the competition when considering how to deal with Rangers, expulsion being the ultimate sanction. Others stressed the financial importance of keeping Rangers in the top flight. After several futile attempts to agree on a reformed structure and future sanctions against Rangers, the SFA stepped in to warn that it was prepared to take over the SPL and SFL and force reforms through.

On 4 July the SPL members voted to deny the re-formed Rangers admission to the competition - only the Rangers representative voted in favour. Subsequently, Dundee were invited to fill the vacancy over the objections of Dunfermline Athletic.

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

Aberdeen

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Team Recruitment

After 46 years playing in all-red, (apart from 1996-97) Aberdeen have reverted to white shorts. The away strip is, I suppose, a nod towards the Dons' original colours. Last season's white strip serves as third choice but now teamed with the new home shorts.

(Russel Campbell, Barry McKenna, Steve Turner)

Celtic

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Tennant's

Celtic were handed the SPL championship last season when Rangers suffered a 10-point penalty. As this is their 125th anniversary a celtic knot has been embroidered round the familiar shamrock badge. The new home strip is a modern interpretation of the very first hooped kit worn a hundred years ago (the third strip reproduces the original kit from 1888) and has the celtic knot motif repeated down the side of the shorts. To enhance the retro effect, their shirt sponsor has agreed to have their logo reduced in size.

The away strip is all-black with dark grey hoops and the colours of the Irish tricolour on the sock turnover, a reminder (if one was needed) of Celtic's Irish Catholic roots.

(James Clyde, Alexander Perkin)

Dundee

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Kilmac Energy

Dundee were voted in to the SPL to replace Rangers after finishing as runners-up in the First Division last season.

Their new strips feature a prominent, two-colour horizontal band across the chest. The third strip was worn with white or navy shorts/socks as required.

(Donald Gellatly, James Coulter)

Dundee United

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Caor Gas

There are no surprises with United's new home strip. By adopting an all-white away kit, United recall the pre-orange days of the 1960s and avoid the, let's say, unfortunate mish-mash of last season.

(Willie Kay)

Heart of Midlothian

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Wonga

Scottish Cup holders, Hearts, have switched from Umbro to Adidas this season. The results are smart if uninspiring.

(Al Gordon, Russel Campbell)

Hibernian

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Crabbie's

Hibs originally wore dark green shirts and this has featured as an accent colour in recent seasons. This time out, they have gone the whole hog with strips in dark green and white that both look very pleasing indeed.

(Russel Campbell, David Innes, Mike Marchand)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Orion Group

Caley Thistle are wearing Errea for the 13th successive season, the home kit having been updated to the Italian company's new template.

(Willie Kay, Donald Gellatly)

Kilmarnock

Designer: Killie 1869

Sponsor: QTS

The latest Kilmarnock own-brand home strip returns to conventional stripes on the shirt and adds yellow as an accent colour. Red and white stripes, worn in the 70s as a change kit, return by popular demand. Although it was intended to wear these with navy shorts, the kit manager seems to prefer the red set. The all-yellow strip first seen in 2010 serves out an extra season as third choice.

(Willie Kay, Martin Le Roy)

Motherwell

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Cash Converters

Well's new third strip celebrates a century since they switched from navy to claret and amber, cleverly combining the two colour schemes. It is worth noting that contemporary SFA/SFL records indicate that the original shirts worn until 1913 were "light blue" and not navy. (In this context "light blue" usually meant mid-blue to distinguish the shade from the far more common dark navy, often described as "blue" in Scotland.) The "Tash Converters" strip was worn at Hibs on 26 October and throughout November as part of the national campaign organised by the club's shirt sponsor to raise funds for research into testicular and prostate cancer.

(Willie Kay)

Ross County

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Stanley CRC Evans

Ross County are making their debut in the SPL this season and have introduced two striking new kits. The home strip is in their usual all-navy with red and white trimmings while the red away strip features a two-colour sash.

(James Coulter)

St Johnstone

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: GS Brown Construction

Joma have updated Saints' traditional blue and white home strip. Light blue and navy always looks smart but is not a suitable choice for a team that plays normally in blue so last season's yellow change top (worn with the white home shorts) was used when necessary.

(Willie Kay, Ryan Dalton)

St Mirren

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Diadora

St Mirren have introduced three excellent strips in partnership with their new technical sponsor. The home strip reverts to white shorts with a 1960s retro-look shirt. The black away strip is given a distinctive appearance with the addition of a diagonal sash and the third kit is based on the Saints' original colours from 135 years ago.

(Andrew Gillespie)