Historical Football Kits

Premier League 2019 - 2020

Manchester City won the Premier League title on the final day of last season in one of the most exciting finishes for many years and went on to clinch the domestic treble. Liverpool got their hands on the Champions League trophy and all four finalists in the European competitions were from the Premier League.

Following an emergency meeting between the Premier League, English Football League, Women's Super League and the Football Association on 13 March it was unanimously agreed to suspend all professional football in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. This was ten days before the UK government declared a national shutdown.

The season eventually resumed on 17 June with various safety measures in place. Matches were played behind closed doors and a maximum of 300 officials permitted into the stadia, which were divided into zones with restricted movement. Entry to the pitch was staggered and handshakes were no longer allowed. Players and officials were regulary tested for the presence of coronavirus between games and were required to observe social distancing rules when traveling to and from games. To reduce the burden on players of two matches every week five substitutes were now permitted.

When matches resumed teams added a special NHS patch to their shirts to acknowledge the sacrifices and dedication of staff in the National Health Service throughout the crisis.

After a series of racially charged police killings in the United States, the killing of African American George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis on 25 May sparked global outrage with between 15 and 21 million people participating in protests in the USA under the banner of Black Lives Matter. In solidarity with this movement the Premier League sleeve logo was replaced by a BLM patch.

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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

Arsenal

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Fly Emirates + Visit Rwanda

It's 25 years since Adidas last supplied the Gunners' equipment and after some of the disappointing efforts by Puma in recent years, many fans are happy to see them return. Being a major club, Adidas provide Arsenal with bespoke kits and the first example is rather good, with navy detailing. The change strip, which has been compared to the 90s horror classic, the Bruised Banana, and the third kit were inadvertantly put on display in the club shop before their official launch.

(Anish Banerji, Detenator Ninety)

Aston Villa

Designer: Kappa

Sponsor: W88 + BR88

Villa are back in the Premier League after an absence of three seasons and for the first time they are wearing Kappa kit. The designs are pretty sound but I dislike the repeated logos on the shorts. Kappa often use their logo in this aggressive fashion and in my view it detracts from the aesthetic of the overall design.The third strip features the same colours that were worn 1993-95.


(Detenator Ninety, George Pannell, Mahdi Askor)

AFC Bournemouth

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Mansion88

There's not a lot changed in the new Cherries' striped top. Deep red sleeves replace last season's black and the stripes extend up to the shoulder seam. There are minor changes to shorts and socks. On the other hand the third kit introduces another novel colour, "Sharp Green" no less to follow on from last season's minty fresh shirt. There's a blotchy pattern on the sleeves of the dark blue kit that supposedly a reference to the dreadful pizza shirt of 1992 but I really can't see it.

(Detenator Ninety, Mahdi Askor)

Brighton & Hove Albion

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: American Express

Brighton had a narrow escape last season but finished two points ahead of Cardiff who went down. The new striped strip is very similar to the 2017-18 Vapor design but it has graded black lines printed into the blue stripes. A black/grey change strip is added to the hamper but last season's green shirt will be needed at Newcastle.

(Andrew Mihaleff, Mahdi Askor)

Burnley

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Love Bet

Umbro are now supplying Burnley and their first effort is a fine interpretation of the classic 1960s strip with modern detailing. The only thing wrong is yet another Chinese online gambling sponsor. The light blue change strip has a smudged graphic across the chest. The third shirt is "Evergreen" and for each replica sold Burnley FC in the Community will plant a tree at an outdoor education centre in Pendle. The white strip was a one-off, worn against West Ham.

(Benjamin Raynor, Gavin Emerson)

Chelsea

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Yokohama Tyres + Hyundai

The pattern printed into the fabric of the new first choice shirt is supposed to represent the shadows created by the glass roof at Stamford Bridge but they look like the result of a car driving through a plate glass window to me. The change shirt has a very neat button down collar - very Mod, very Small Faces. Replicas are expensive, however. Stadium shirts will set you back £80 while the match version is £133. That's a lot of cash for what is basically a polyester top. There is, as usual, a black strip in the set and this one has a deliberate retro feel to it, emphasised by the old version of the Nike Swoosh logo. The orange is a reference to that awful kit worn by Ruud Gullitt and his chums in the 90s. The special kit was worn in the FA Cup Third Round and replicates the strip worn in the FA Cup final replay 50 years ago when Chelsea won the cup for the first time.

(David Niblock, Detenator Ninety, Nik Yeomans)

Crystal Palace

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: ManBetX + Dongqiudi

Palace's strips are always distinctive and have the virtue of never being off-the-shelf standard templates but I find them hard to like. Red and blue is not an easy combination to carry off but here at least, the white detailing creates a nice contrast. I just find the new first strip a bit busy but that's nothing compared to the bad acid trip change strip. However, ask any Palace fan what their favourite outfit is and almost everyone will mention the white shirt with red and blue sash and Puma have come up with an interesting interpretation of this classic.

(Detenator Ninety, MMA, Andy Burton)

Everton

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Sport Pesa

Something odd is happening in the design offices of Nike and Umbro and it involves graphics inspired by roofing struts. In Everton's case we're looking at the steelwork in the roof of Archibald Leitch's Bullend Road Stand. Salmon Pink, an old favourite with Victorian pedigree, returns teamed with "dark teal" for the change strip. Neither kit was suitable for Everton's opening fixture at Crystal Palace and their third strip had not been launched so last season's white and navy kit was worn. When it finally arrived the third strip looked stunning in dark navy with lilac applications.

(Anish Banerji, Detenator Ninety, Lenny Morris)

Leicester City

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: King Power

Traditionalist supporters have grown tired of the all-blue look worn since City won the Premier League title in 2016 so the return of white shorts is likely to be met with general approval. Pale gold trimmings remain so purists will knock a few points off for that. The pink and black kit is the new Campeon template (otherwise known as Germany's shirt) while the dark grey third choice is the new Tiro design.

(Bill Wakefield, Detenator Ninety)

Liverpool

Designer: New Balance

Sponsor: Standard Chartered + Western Union

Having pushed Manchester City all the way in last season's title race, Liverpool have the happy consolation of lifting the Champions League trophy for the sixth time.

Deep "Shankly Red" has become a thing now at Anfield and it does look good. This season's offering is dedicated to Bob Paisley and bears the pinstripes and gold applications that appeared when he was in charge. The change strip is in white and navy, an unusual but not unprecedented choice. There is a subtle vertical graphic running down the front of the shirt. The third strip is grey with bright teal trim and a graphic on the front supposedly inspired by the street lights of the city. I have no words.

(Nik Yeomans, Detenator Ninety)

Manchester City

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Eitihad Airways

UEFA's investigation into City's alleged breach of Financial Fair Play regulations threatens to overshadow their unprecdented domestic treble but there are no signs of when a verdict will be reached. On a lighter note Puma have taken over the kit contract thought to be worth £650m over ten years. They have gone all out to make an impression with purple trim on the first kit, a second strip with detailing inspired by the Hacienda Club, the centre of the city's "Madchester" scene in the 80s, and a third kit in "fizzy yellow and Georgia peach." To mark 125 years since the club was incorporated as Manchester City 1,894 special edition shirts were made available to supporters. The strip was worn by the team in the Community Shield on 4 August.

(Paul Levio, Adam Dove, Mahdi Askor)

Manchester United

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Chevrolet + Kohler

To mark the twentieth anniversary of their historic treble, United have adopted a simple first strip with a commemorative crest based on the one worn in the Champions League final in 1999. Light beige is a curious choice for the change shirt but it looks distinctive and offers plenty of contrast. United were the first team to adopt an all-black strip when the rules were relaxed in 1993 and this style has appeared on several occasions. This version is decorated with a rose pattern in the shirt fabric, a reference to the Lancashire rose worn by the team in the 1909 FA Cup final, their first ever.

(Detenator Ninety)

Newcastle United

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Fun88 + StormGain

It's 50 years since Newcastle won the Fairs Cup, their last major trophy and the new first strip is supposed to evoke that triumph. What a pity that Puma opted for broad stripes and solid black sleeves instead of recreating the 2" stripes of the classic original shirt. Second choice is dark bottle green with a flux pattern at the upper chest and sleeves. The third strip is orange and, yes, those are roof supports printed into the shirt.

(Jonathan Auty, Phil Marriott)

Norwich City

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Dafabet + Best Fiends

The Canaries return to the Premier League as holders of the Championship title. They have a new graded yellow and green top as well as a new shirt sponsor. The change strip is red with yellow graphic trim. The third strip would be required if the Canaries were scheduled to meet Partick Thistle but is otherwise entirely superfluous. Nice though.

(Stuart English, Zak Nelson, David King)

Sheffield United

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Union Standard Group

The Blades are back in the Premier League for the first time in over a decade and with a record breaking shirt sponsorship deal into the bargain. There's a lot more red in the new striped shirt than last term and the stripes are wider. I'm not sure about the black Adidas stripes at the shoulders but otherwise this is a decent strip. The alternative is white with a pale grey Tiro graphic and red trimmings and looks very smart. Last season's fluorescent strip is retained as third choice with new applications.

(Matt Brownhill, Mahdi Askor)

Southampton

Designer: Under Armour

Sponsor: LD Sports + Virgin Media

Broad stripes and a black yoke feature on the new striped shirt providing a distinctive look. The The alternatives also have yokes but these have fine contrasting lines across them. This is echoed in the trim on the shorts and socks.

The new shirt sponsor, who have paid a club record sum is a Chinese concern that will, when it's launched, offer "a sports content, marketing and entertainment platform...for the Chinese market." No, I don't know what that means either. Last season's red shirt was recycled for the match at Newcastle in another example of how petty officials can be over colour clashes these days.

(Rich Wrigley, Luka Majcenic, David King, Scott Griffin)

Tottenham Hotspur

Designer: Nike

Sponsor: AIA

I for one am not sorry to see the last of the graded shirt introduced last year and which looked so awful when worn with white shorts in Europe. The replacement is close to being a classic but if I'm going to be picky (and you know me) I don't like navy at the collar in a Spurs shirt. The change strip is all navy with an interesting purple graphic on the upper chest. It's hard to believe that purple first appeared in Spurs' pallette way back in 1994. Light blue also has a pedigree and is always a popular choice, especially in a vibrant shade like this one. Nike have come over all 90s and Britpop again with a retro button down collar and Futura logo. That graphic, by the way, appears to replicate the panels that can be opened or closed to aid ventilation in their new stadium.

(Zak Lewis, Mahdi Askor)

Watford

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: Sportsbet.io

The losing FA Cup finalists have once again thrown tradition to the winds with a halved shirt. The change strip is an attractive slate blue with the latest Tiro graphic on the shirt.
The third kit is last season's change strip with new applications and it was inexplicably worn at Newcastle.

(Detenator Ninety)

West Ham United

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Betway

The first choice is certainly a radical new look for the Hammers although there are echoes of the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup design in the shirt. Traditionalists will not be happy but it is undeniably a striking strip. The white alternative is "inspired by" the outfit worn in their 1980 FA Cup win. The third strip is "Evening Blue" with magenta trim and Umbro's new broken diamond graphic printed into the shirt fabric.

(Steven Thomas, Peter Dodd, Detenator Ninety, MMA)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Designer: Adidas

Sponsor: ManBetX + Coin Deal

A successful first season back in the Premier League saw Wolves finish seventh and qualify for a place in the Europa League. Adidas' new Tiro design features on the famous old gold shirt. Because of restrictions on advertising in Italy, the logo of the Wolves Foundation was printed onto their shirts for their match with Torino. The special shirt had commemorative script added to mark 130 years that the club have played at Molyneux. The black alternative shirt features diagonal pinstripes. A third kit will certainly be required for the trip to Watford and I dare say the rather unpleasant green outfit will get a few more outings in order to shift some replicas.

(Geoff Bell, Nik Yeomans)