Historical Football Kits

 

Sky Bet League Two 2016 - 2017

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In May the Football League (sorry, English Football League) floated a proposal to restructure the competition by reducing the number of teams in each division to 20 and adding a new division for the 2019-20 season. This would involve admitting eight new clubs, presumably from the National League. The idea is to reduce fixture congestion and drastically reduce the number of mid week fixtures. A vote on the proposals will be held at the 2017 AGM.

 

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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

Accrington Stanley

accrington stanley 2016-17 1st kit

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accrington stanley 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Mitre

Sponsor: Plastic Box Shop

Stanley have stayed with stripes and on the face of it there is little that is different about the new first strip. Look closer, however, and we notice that the stripes are edged with a fine checkered pattern and red shoulders have been added. The change strip is yellow and blue again but now in the same design as the first kit.

(Arthur Cowburn)

 

Barnet

barnet fc 2016-17 1st kit

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barnet fc 2016-17 change kit

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barnet fc 2016-17 third kit

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barnet fc 2016-17 fourth kit

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Designer: Jako

Sponsor: Toshiba

Matching designs with a very unusual sash set Barnet's kits apart from the standard templates on offer from the major manufacturers. Traditional black and amber feature prominently and once again violet and white is chosen for the change strip. The fourth kit is supposed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Bees winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1946, when the team wore amber. black and white (although obviously in a more traditional design).

(Chris Shiels, Travis Hogarth-Colby, David Rafelle)

 

Blackpool

blackpool fc 2016-17 1st kit

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blackpool 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Errea

Sponsor: tp.

Three relegations in five years have taken Blackpool from the first to fourth tier and the relationship between the owners and the supporters has become increasingly toxic. Their new tangerine and white strip is smart enough and is paired with an outfit in two tones of blue, a reminder that Blackpool wore light and dark blue in the 1930s. Characteristically, Errea have added their own twist to the fashion for grading on shirts.

(Alec Hitchman, Peter Gillatt)

 

Cambridge United

cambridge united 2016-17 1st kit

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buy football shirts from uk soccer shop
cambridge united 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Mick George

The unpleasant graded shirts from last season have been dropped as expected replaced by a standard Pitch design with pinstripes on the shirt. Standard template or not, the change strip looks great.

(Travis Hogarth-Colby, Matthew Hague-Lang)

 

Carlisle United

carlisle united 2016-17 1st kit

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carlisle united 2016-17 change kit

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carlisle united 2016-17 third kit

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Designer: Sondico

Sponsor: DSD Building Contractors

Carlisle have adopted three different designs, each of which is a variation on their red, white and blue colours.

(Dan MacLennan, David King)

 

Cheltenham Town

cheltenham town fc 2016-17 1st kit

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cheltenham town frc 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Mira Showers

The Robins returned to the Football League after one season in the National League. Their new strips were chosen by supporters. The first choice shirt is, in my opinion, far too complicated.

(Chris Antone, David King)

 

Colchester United

colhester united 2016-17 1st kit

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colchester united 2016-17 change kit

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colchester united 2016-17 third kit

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Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Weston Homes (1st), Jobserve (2nd, 3rd)

Relegated Colchester have signed up with the Italian company Macron for five years. Generally, I like Macron for their original styling but sometimes their designers just overload kits with detailing and this is the case with the new first strip. Traditional blue and white stripes are retained but are edged in pale gold and blue. The black and grey change strip is more restrained and all the better for it. The neon yellow outfit, Macron's Andromeda design, is designated the U's clash kit and it certainly does.

(Jordan Knott, Alec Hitchman, David King)

 

Crawley Town

crawley town fc 2016-17

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crawley town 2016-17

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crawley town 2016-17 3rd kit

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Checkatrade

We have conventional updated Puma Pitch strips here. Nothing to write home about but the first choice outfit is an improvement on last season. Black is retained as the secondary colour and is the main colour of the third strip.

(Matt Cannon, Gabriek R)

 

Crewe Alexandra

crewe alexandra 2016-17 1st kit

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crewe alexandra 2016-17 change kit

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crewealexandra 2016-17 3rd kit

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Designer: Carbrini

Sponsor: Mornflake

I really don't know what to make of Crewe's new first shirt. The team have never played in hoops in their long history and while white has always featured it has never before dominated as it does here. The latest change kit is black with yellow piping. Since neither were suitable for the visit to Morecambe so last season's white shirts were worn.

(Alec Hitchman, Alexander Leiberich, Ben Gershaw)

 

Doncaster Rovers

doncaster rovers 2016-17 1st kit

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doncaster rovers 2016-17 change kit

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doncaster rovers charity kit 2016-17

Special

v Morecambe 10 Sept

Designer: FBT

Sponsor: One Call Insurance

Doncaster, who were relegated last season, ran a competition for fans to design their new shirts. A row broke out after it was announced that One Direction singer, Louis Tomlinson, had won with his design for the change kit. Tomlinson, who is a non-contract player with the team, tried to buy Rovers in 2014. Some fans have objected that someone involved with the club had taken part in the competition and suspect that the results were manipulated to use Tomlinson's popularity to boost replica sales. The club denies any impropriety. The charity shirts were auctioned off in support of the British Heart Foundation (hence the ECG graphic).

(Craig Morris, Gabriel R, David King)

 

Exeter City

exeter city 2016-17 1st kit

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exeter city 2016-17 change kit

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exeter city 2016-17 3rd kit

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Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Flybe

Joma's latest first shirt for Exeter has much broader stripes than recent versions and solid red sleeves. I have never liked fluorescent kits so the change strip does not receive the HFK seal of approval. The excellent third strip, which honours the club's connections with Fluminense, is retained for another season.

(Gary Morris)

 

Grimsby Town

grimsby town fc 2016-17

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grimsby town 2016-17 change kit

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grimsby town 2016-13 third kit

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Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Youngs

After an absence of six seasons, the Mariners have regained their place in the Football League thanks to a 3-1 win at Wembley over Forest Green Rovers in the National League promotion final. Their traditional colours are now embellished by a graded effect on the shirt. The alternative is red and there's a very attractive third kit in silver with teal trim.

(Travis Hogarth-Colby, Diamond One, Robert Wacey, David King)

 



Hartlepool United

hartlepool united 2016-17 1st kit

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hartlepool united 2016-17 poppy kit

Special

12 Nov v Cheltenham
hertlepool united 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Seneca Homes (1st), Northern Gas & Power (2nd)

As usual, Hartlepool have picked something new out of Nike's catalogue. The first strip is the latest Division II design with the distinctive fading stripes while Academy is used for the alternative in Nike's Cherry Voltage, a colour that may be harmful if viewed with the naked eye. The special shirt is designed by Avec and was raffled off in support of the British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

(Alexander Leibereich, Alistair Bowden, David Raffelle)

 

Leyton Orient

leyton orient 2016-17 1st kit

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leyton orient 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Nike

Sponsor: Energybet

Orient are provided with the new Academy design from Nike for the first strip. Park Derby is used for the alternative.

(Edward Morgan)

 

Luton Town

luton town 2016-17 1st kit

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luton town 2016-17 change kit

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luton town 2016-17 third kit

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Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ssangyong Motor UK

Sorry to say, Luton have signed up with Puma so we have yet another bland set of standard templates. That said, the combination of orange, navy and white works well.

(Alfie Mayfield)

 

Mansfield Town

mansfield town 2016-17 1st kit

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mansfield town 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Surridge

Sponsor: One Call Insurance

Pinstripes appear on the new white change shirt which have an interesting fade effect that I haven't seen before. The first kit is unchanged.

(Saul Turner)

 

Morecambe

morecambe fc 2016-17 1st kit

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morecambe 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Carbrini

Sponsor: Omega Holidays

Black is retained as a secondary colour in the new Morecambe first strip, which looks very nice. To confuse matters (not to mention yours truly) this was launched with second choice white shorts. The alternative is a striking combination of grey and deep pink.

(James Main, Luke Wilson, David King)

 

Newport County

notts county 2016-17 1st kit

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newport county 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Macron

Sponsor: Mr Tom

Newport have reverted to all amber trimmed in black with a white alternative.

 

Notts County

notts county 2016-17 1st kit

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notts county 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Carbrini

Sponsor: Ladbrokes

There's not much to say about the new Notts County first strip - it's traditional with the latest Carbrini trim. Pale gold features in the piping down the shoulder and sleeves. At first glance the promotional photographs of the change shirt suggest it might be similar to that of Nottingham's other team but it is in fact deep pink. So that's alright then.

(Neil Ward)

 

Plymouth Argyle

plymouth argyle 2016-17 1st kit

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plymouth argyle 2016-17 change kit

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plymouth argyle 2016-17 3rd kit

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Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ginsters

Argyle nearly went out of business a few years ago but their fortunes are improving and they reached the play-off final last season. The new first kit will be hard to see under floodlights but supporters are thrilled that the beautiful mid Sixties white strip with green and black bands has, at last, been revived. The shirts are now sponsored by the purveyors of the West Country's most famous export.

White socks and sometimes shorts from the change kit were often worn at home to improve the visibility of the dark green kit.

(Michael Grimly, David King, David Rafelle)

 

Portsmouth

portsmouth fc 2016-17 1st kit

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portsmouth fc 2016-17 change kit

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portsmouth fc third kit 2016-17

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Designer: Sondico

Sponsor: Jobsite.com

Pompey's revival continues and last season they reached the play-offs. Once again supporters are involved and were asked to vote from short lists for the new kits. The new strips were modelled by players from the club's inclusive teams at the launch to emphasise their commitment to diversity, which is a nice touch.

(Alexander Leiberich, Jake Smith)

 

Stevenage

stevenage 2016-17 1st kit

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stevenage 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Carbrini

Sponsor: Tyre Pros

It is Stevenage's fortieth anniversary and fans were asked to vote on their favourite kit from the past. The result was the unique diagonal striped design from 1996-98. It is complemented by a change strip in "Black Iris and Cyber Yellow."

(Alexander Leiberich)

 

Wycombe Wanderers

wycombe wanderers 2016-17 1st kit

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wycombe wanderers fa cup 4th round kit 2017

FA Cup 4th Round

wycombe wanderers 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: O'Neills

Sponsor: Beechdean Dairy Ice Cream

O'Neills are an Irish company that supplies kit to Gaelic football and hurling teams. They also had the contract to supply the Irish national football team from 1976 to 1986. This is only the second time that their brand has appeared in the UK: Barnet briefly wore O'Neills kit after the turn of the millennium. The first strip is described as a return to the Chairboys' traditional shades of blue. Although the design is rather busy, on balance I rather like it for its individuality. As the alternative is white, a third kit will be needed for visits to Colchester and Hartlepool. A limiited edition version of the first choice shirt was produced to commemorate the team's visit to Spurs in the FA Cup.

(Karl Olszewski, Dave Peatey, Jon Spreabury, James Freund)

 

Yeovil Town

yeovil town 2016-17 1st kit

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yeovil town 2016-17 change kit

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Designer: Sondico

Sponsor: Jones Building Group

Yeovil have a smart new first kit that features black sleeves and edging to the familiar hoops. The change kit from last season is retained.

(Ian Hambridge)