It’s the time of the year when football clubs across the country prepare to unveil their new kits for next season. For some, it will be a chance to right the wrongs of their current threads.
The football kit business is a lucrative one, and one that has grown in popularity over the years. There are an increasing amount of mystery shirt companies popping up across the country, whilst clubs have recently taken to releasing some of their retro designs, much to the delight of supporters and collectors alike.
It’s something which teams hope to take advantage of and each year, there is the hope that the latest releases will be seen as somewhat as an instant classic. Whereas some get it right, there are some which perhaps try a little too hard to stand out from the crowd. Here, we take a look at the clubs that may require a rethink ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
5. Colchester United Home
There’s only so much you can do with blue and white stripes, right? Well, wrong actually. After spending a few campaigns wearing predominantly blue between 2019 and 2022, the U’s brough back the stripes last season. However, they then went almost full circle for this season.
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Introducing your 2023/24 Colchester United home kit. #ColU | #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/WcZw2vFPD6
— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) July 16, 2023
Although it is a stripe design of sorts, the waning blue lines make the shirt appear almost white, whilst the yellow collar is a bit on the odd side. It’s fair to say this one split opinion.
4. Leeds United Third
A classic case of trying to be different for the sake of it. A yellow and pink design which is reminiscent of the classic Fruit Salad sweet, it’s certainly one that will be remembered.
๐ฅ Announcing the #LUFC x @adidasfootball 2023/24 third kit pic.twitter.com/CyxMGnhiXK
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 8, 2023
They have worn the kit on three occasions over the past month, most recently recording a 2-1 defeat against Coventry City. It was a result which saw them slip out of the automatic promotion places, a position they remain with just four games remaining.
Rumour has it that next season’s third kit will also feature pink, although the yellow looks to have been replaced with blue.
3. Carlisle United Away
The 90s is often considered the golden era of kits, with the wacky designs becoming the pinnacle for all collectors. This season, Carlisle went back 30 years for inspiration, with their home shirt clearly inspired by some of their threads from the early part of that decade.
The away effort is a bit of a mess though, taking Leeds’ Fruit Salad offering to another level by throwing in a helping of Barratt’s sister confectionary, the Black Jack.
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Purchase yours in-store or online using the link below. โคต๏ธ#cufc
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) April 9, 2024
It’s been a dreadful campaign for the Cumbrians, although the kit has seen some success when they recorded a stunning 3-1 away win at promotion-chasing Peterborough United last month, whilst beating Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night. However, relegation from League One has now been confirmed. Probably the least they deserve for that shirt…
2. Lincoln City Third
Lincoln have produced some stunning kits over the years. but this isn’t one of them. Looking like a GCSE Art project gone wrong, the colour choice is questionable at best, a tiger-like design filled with pink and navy blue.
๐ A league debut for our third kit on Saturday.#WeAreImps
— Lincoln City FC ๐บ๐ฆ (@LincolnCity_FC) October 19, 2023
The Imps last wore this atrocity in a 2-0 win over Port Vale in February in the midst of their current 16-game unbeaten run. They have seemingly come from nowhere over the past few months to surge up the table, where they now sit on the fringes of the play-offs with four games remaining.
1. Barnsley Home
Taking the title for the worst kit of the 2023/24 season is Barnsley’s home design. Inspired by their US Mobile sponsor, the shirt features large stars from the breast up to the shoulders and fades from red to white.
Have you got five minutes?
— Specsavers (@Specsavers) June 29, 2023
It’s an utterly dreadful offering, although it could still go down in Tykes’ folklore should they manage to secure promotion this season. Neill Collins’ side are currently fifth in League One and look good value for a second successive play-off finish, having been beaten in the final by Sheffield Wednesday last season. However, they arguably deserve to be relegated instead for forcing this upon their fans.
