History of Football Kits Continued
New Millennium (2000-Present Day)
The continued trend of simpler designs for football kits continued in the new millennium. Tottenham wore the first body hugging Kombat 2000 kit made by Kappa in 2002. This football shirt had a mixed view amongst fans.
In the 2007-07 season the Football League permitted teams to add a secondary sponsorship logo to appear on the back of players football shirts and shorts, but the Premier League didn’t follow suit.
Every season, manufacturers battle it out with each other to introduce the latest football kit designs, with new kits being showcased on the last match of the previous season.
For clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea sales of replica football kits and shirts create an annual revenue stream of millions of pounds. Football clubs on a smaller basis must balance the introduction of new football kits, while not angering their loyal fans by releasing too many kits.
Football fans now have a say in many clubs new football kits before they are launched, to make sure they are happy with the new styles and colours being introduced.
Most football clubs have three football kits each season. They have their home kit, away kit and third kit. New football kit designs are showcased in the final matches of each season before appearing in clubs shops over the summer.
Special anniversary football kits are now beginning to be introduced for example Charlton Athletics’ 2004 centenary kit and Arsenals final football kit worn at Highbury.
To begin the history of football kits please see the Victorian period (1857-1899).