Historical Football Kits

 

Historical Football Kits Updates 2010

Contributions from visitors as well as my own continuing research mean that new material is being added to the archive all the time. Here is a month by month summary of additions, corrections and updates to the site.

irish free state 1924 olympic football team31 December: According to an article published recently on the Irish Tribune website and discovered by Denis Hurley, the team that represented the Irish Free State in the 1924 Olympics wore blue shirts rather than green in their opening game against Bulgaria because of a colour clash. The team of amateurs was organised by the Irish Olympic Committee with no support from the Free State FA or government, which regarded association football as a foreign import played only in garrison towns.

Hereford United (1992-93 added): further information provided by Rumwold Leigh has been added to the Renton section concerning the dates that the club was inactive: England's yellow change strip from 1973 now has the correct short sleeves.

doncaster rovers 1896-97 team group30 December: HFK Research Associate, Christopher Worrall, has continued his research into the history of Doncaster Rovers' kits and we can now publish the results of his work along with a comprehensive crest history. Numerous kits have been revised with more accurate detailing while several new items have been added to the gallery (1930-31, 1933-35, 1935-36, 1945-46, Autumn 1948, 1974-75 and August 1993).

The photograph shows the Doncaster team in 1896-97 wearing the red and white halved shirts of the period.

(Replicas of this shirt are currently available in the HFK Shop.)

28 December: Yeovil Town (1985-86, 2001-02 added; 1992-93 sponsorship corrected): Arsenal (1996-97 away kit modified): Motherwell (1934-35 added): Nottingham Forest (minor detailing changes to graphics 1978-84): Scotland (1900-01 amended): Southampton (1990-91 socks corrected).

17 December: Hull City (1931-32 added): Carlisle United (1931-33 added): West Bromwich Albion (1955-56 added; 1894-96, 1934-41, 1968-69, 1969-71 amended): Notts County (1940-46, 1959-61 detailing altered): Bournemouth (1986-87, 1987-88 collar corrected): Nottingham Forest (March 1974-75 added).

huddersfield town cards & stickers book16 December: If you have been following our recent extensive updates of the Huddersfield Town section, you may be interested in Roger Pashby's book, available for just £3+p&p from his website. Click the image for more details.

Arsenal (1996-98 jaquard motif modified): Tottenham Hotspur (December 1948 change kit added, Feb 1977 change kit amended): Wolves (1924-25 added).

14 December 2010-11 Updates: Sheffield Wednesday (3rd kit corrected): hamilton academicals 1910-11Blackpool (3rd kit amended): Rushden & Diamonds (H added): Real Salt Lake (3rd added): Portland Timbers (2011 H & A added).

This fine photograph, submitted by Willie Kay, shows Hamilton Academicals wearing the cerise and French grey colours of the Duke of Hamilton in 1910-11. These shirts seem to have been in short supply as a couple of players appear to be wearing older red and white tops.

Peterborough United (1955-56 added): West Ham United (1907-21 collar reduced).

south shields adelaide 1904-0512 December: Keith Ellis has uncovered this photograph of South Shields Adelaide taken in 1905. Although we cannot confirm the colour of the stripes, I believe they are most likely red and white. The club has a complicated history, dropping the Adelaide suffix in 1905 before joining the Football League in 1919. New information that has come to light about the origins of the club have been added to the South Shields/Gateshead section. (1904-15, 1922-23 strips added.)

Third Lanark (1903-05 collar amended): Airdrieonians (1938 added): Heart of Midlothian (1937-40 added): Morton (1922-27 collar corrected): Norwich City (1949-50, 1957-58 added; 1910-11 collar amended): Hull City (1904-05, 1922-23 added, crest added to 1935-36 kit): Lincoln City (1921-22 added): Wimbledon (1986-87 added): Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (1968-69 socks amended).

aston villa 1922-23 change strip11 December: This intriguing strip dates from 1922-23 and was worn by Aston Villa at Middlesbrough. The triple chevron (there seems to be a pale V between the two darker bands) is unique.

Middlesbrough (1964-65 added): Darlington (1964-65 added): Doncaster Rovers (1930-31 removed - confirmed as a change kit): Sunderland (1909-10 added, 1910-11 modified): Plymouth Argyle (1934-35 added): Birmingham (1922, 1924-25 added).

huudersfield town 1930 fa cup final match worn shirt5 December: One of the challenges HFK faces is interpreting old black and white photographs. We have previously noted that photographs taken before 1930 tend to make shades of blue appear pale while red tends to come out dark. The only way to resolve this is to have access to an original shirt so we are grateful to HFK Research Associate, Roger Pashby, for this image of Harry Raw's shirt worn in the 1930 FA Cup Final. Based on this evidence we have revised the Huddersfield Town record. Roger has also provided information that has filled several gaps. (April 1912, 1939-40, 1944-45, 1945-46 added; 1988-90, 1991-92 amended).

Greenock Morton (1991-93, 1995-96 amended): Sunderland (1886-87 knickers corrected).

notts county team group november 18774 December: Pride of place today goes to this remarkable photograph taken in November 1877, found by Tony Onslow and Jonathon Russell. It was originally thought to be of Notts County before a match with Queen's Park. HFK suggested this might not be case since County's normal colours at the time were deep amber shirts and white knickerbockers and there seemed no reason for them to change. Further research by Tony has today revealed the team is in fact a Nottingham FA XI. The first half of the match was played under Scottish rules and the second under the English code, Queen's Park running out 6-1 winners. The coat of arms of the city of Nottingham is shown very clearly on players' shirts: crests were rarely worn by clubs at this time but badges worn in representative game were often sewn onto club shirts afterwards.

loghborough fc 1895 team groupHere is another interesting find, submitted by the indefatigable Keith Ellis. It shows Loughborough FC in 1895 wearing broad stripes. This style was just beginning to replace the narrow 1" stripes that were popular at the time.

Bradford Park Avenue (1920-22 added; 1914-15 collar corrected and several graphics redrawn to show more accurately the sequence of coloured hoops and their width): Middlesbrough (1908, 1929-33 added; 1934-36 collar redrawn): Scarborough (1902-05 updated from photographic evidence): Swindon Town (1906-07 added): Burton Albion (1974-75 shorts confirmed): Ashington (1923-24 corrected - the graphic previously presented was their change strip).

coventry city fc 1923-24 false colour imageThis image illustrates the peril of relying on colourised images for research. It shows Coventry City in 1923-24 and the artist has rendered it in the blue and white colours worn by the team in the latter part of the decade. Regular visitors to HFK will know that the shirts worn during this season were in fact light green and red, a short lived and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to revive the team's fortunes by adopting the municipal colours.

crystal palace 1935-36 team group1 December: Today's featured photograph is of the Crystal Palace squad wearing a strip at the cutting edge of fashion in 1935-36. Note the elbow length sleeves and light blue socks with claret turnovers, smart innovations at the time. The reserves are wearing reversed shirts, which would have been used when colours clashed.

Fulham (crest slightly amended 1951-1973): Chelsea (1912-13, 1963-64 added): Preston North End (1950-54 socks amended): Portsmouth (April 1958 added): Plymouth Argyle (1935-36 added): York City (1937-38 socks corrected): Darwen (1888-91 corrected): Doncaster Rovers (1930-31 added).

An intriguing photograph, uncovered by Simon Monks, which we are unable to post due to copyright restrictions, suggests that Preston wore a Lancashire rose in the 1922 FA Cup Final. We already know that their opponents, Huddersfield Town added a Yorkshire rose to their shirts for this match.

Correction: On 28 November we stated that Bolton Wanderers did not regularly wear their crest until 1932. In fact this was worn from 1921 although it did not always appear in team photographs.

stenhousemuir 1930-31 photo30 November: Derby County (1885, 1948-49 added; 1925-26, 1949-56 amended; crest history updated): Tottenham Hotspur (1926-44, 1948-51 collar amended): Ayr United (1922-23 collar corrected): Hamilton Academical (1987-88 socks corrected): collar detailing amended on Aberdeen (1908), Dundee (1902-09), Dunfermline Athletic (1956-57), Heart of Midlothian (1900-10), Hibernian (1903-07): Celtic (1964-65 change kit added): Stenhousemuir (1930-31 added - see photo left).

28 November: Liverpool (minor alterations made to crests 1987-2001): Grimsby Town (1904-16 now rendered in a dark shade of salmon pink, consistent with photographic evidence): Fulham (1951-52 added; 1935-39, 1956-57 socks corrected): Bolton Wanderers (1937-38, 1950-51 added; 1922-33, 1934-35, 1949-50 corrected). We now seem to have established that Bolton did not regularly wear a crest in league games until 1932.

huddersfield town team group 1913-1426 November: In recent months we have been able to piece together the evolution of Huddersfield Town's early strips. Thanks to the research of Roger Pashby, we now have what I believe is the definitive history from 1908 to 1923, including this example of a rare Edwardian shirt with very broad stripes from 1913-14. Roger's website has a superb collection of team photographs.

Brighton (sponsor's logo on current away strip corrected): Sunderland (1972-73 added and the crest used on away kits in the late Sixties has been added to the crest history): Chelsea (1975-76 away kit added).

Grimsby Town (May 1934, March 1939 strips added; 1898-1902 amended). The March 1939 shirt with oversize collar, worn in the FA Cup semi-final that year was tom mcinnes luton town 1897featured in our 21 October News & Updates: we now have details of the full strip.

This splendid portrait of Tom McInnes of Luton Town taken in 1897 comes from the newly published Luton Town Football Club: The Full Record 1885-2010 (Roger Wash and Simon Pitts) and shows intriguing detail of the multicoloured striped shirts of the period as well as revealing a previously unknown crest. The book is curently sold out in the club shop but can be found at Waterstones, Amazon etc. (1889-92, 1898-99, 1933-34 added; 1896-98, 1892-94, 1906-07, 1973-74 amended.)

25 November 2010-11 updates: Macclesfield Town (3rd), Sheffield United (3rd), Hibernian (3rd), St Johnstone (3rd).

grimsby town 1933-34 team group24 November: We have two photographs of Grimsby Town to start off with today. The first is from 1933-34 and shows three slightly different shirt styles. This is quite typical for striped shirts in the first half of the twentieth century - one of the things that makes documenting striped tops so frustrating.

The second image is supposedly from 1904-05 but in my view grimsby town 1906 team group actually dates from 1906-07. It shows the team wearing their short-lived yoked tops, a style that was popular in the period before the First World War.

Grimsby Town (1954-55, 1969-70 added; 1928-29 corrected; 1933-34, 1937-38 detailing altered). West Ham United (1954-55, 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup Final added; 1963-66 crest amended). Hartlepool United (1989-90 added).

portsmouth team group 1906-0720 November: Jason Stone, who was Head of Media at Portsmouth FC until 2007, wrote to HFK recently about his efforts along with club historian Richard Owen to research the history of Pompey's kits. Although the project was not completed, they did establish that the socks worn with the early pink shirts were black rather than maroon. Jason has also provided artwork that has enabled us to render the club's crests from 1913 to 1989 more accurately. (1931-32, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1951-52 added.)

Mansfield Town (manufacturers identified and some detailing changes added to graphics 1983-1990).

wigan borough 1928-29 team group16 November: Here is a real find from Keith Ellis. The photograph is of the ill-fated Wigan Borough team taken in 1928-29. At first glance the shirts appear to be plain amber but closer examination reveals broad hoops, very badly faded. I have exaggerated the contrast to bring out this detail.

Norwich City (1999-01, Jan-May 1994 now have correct manufacturers): Republic of Ireland (November 1987, October 1989 added): Swindon Town (1925-26, 1934-35, 1939-40 added; 1910-11, 1966-67 socks now confirmed): Chelsea (1927-28 added): Tottenham Hotspur (1919-20, 1946-47, 1947-48 added; 1921-23 collar amended): Millwall (1910-11 added; 1936-39 collar altered).

wigan athletic team group 1936-372010-11 updates: East Fife (3rd added).

We will close today with a rare early picture of Wigan Athletic, who were formed a few months after Borough went out of businesss in 1931. Taken in 1937, the trophy is the Lancashire Junior Cup. The Latics did not adopt blue until after the Second World War and are shown here in their original red and white shirts.

 

12 November: Newcastle United (several tweaks have been made to detailing on Home and Away kits 1983-2000 and the 1976-77 away strip has been added): Derby County (1976-78 altered): Rangers (1987-90 texture altered): Burnley (1966-67 added): Gillingham (crest on graphics 1993-1995 corrected): Brighton (August 1997, 2007 special kit added; minor tweaks made to 1998-2010 graphics).

scotland shirt 19517 November: We shall focus on Scotland today.

Photographed here is a rare Scottish match-worn change shirt from 1951, awarded to Jimmy Scoular in the match against France at Hampden Park. This was the last time that the attractive Lord Rosebery colours were worn by the Scottish national side. Previously they were Scotland's first choice in 1881, 1900-01 and 1905-09. (Image found by Keith Ellis.)

Hamilton Academicals (1903-04 added, 1927-35 socks corrected): Airdrieonians (1966-67 added): Arbroath (1958-59 added): Montrose (1936-37 cuffs now correct): Queen's Park (1927-28 collar corrected): Partick Thistle (1909-35 badge redrawn): St Johnstone (1962-63 added): Cowdenbeath (1893-94 knickerbockers corected):

vale of leven fc team group 1890This photograph, also found by Keith Ellis, is of Vale of Leven and dates from around 1890, when the three-time Scottish FA Cup winners became founder members of the Scottish Football League. By this time the village sides that had done so well in the past were being eclipsed by the newly emerging teams from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dumbarton: Vale resigned from the SFL in 1892 having failed to win a single game. They had two further spells in the Scottish League before they were wound up in 1929.

2010-11 Updates: Stranraer (A) added.

4 November: 2010-11 Updates - Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A), Rangers (kit worn at Valencia), Raith Rovers (3rd) added.

nottingham forest 1909-10 team groupHistorical Updates: Bury (1982-83, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1991-92 detailing amended): Leeds United (1934-38 collar changed): Huddersfield Town (1934-38 added, 1968-69, 1971-72 amended): Stoke City (1918-19 added, 1963-64, 1968-73 corrected): Nottingham Forest (1909-10 - see photo left - 1953-54 added).

Crest histories have been added to the Fulham, Gillingham, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Huddersfield Town, Hull City & Ipswich Town sections.

29 October: Cardiff City (1967-68 crest altered): Chelsea (1966-67 one-off third kit added): Brighton & Hove Albion (1991-93, 1993-94 detailing amended): Grimsby Town (1987-89 manufacturer confirmed): Bury (1991-92 corrected): West Bromwich Albion (crest history added).

28 October: Scotland (1989 strip worn against Cyprus added): Motherwell (deeper shade of amber throughout): Birmingham City (1971-75 cuffs corrected): Exeter City, Rangers and Celtic (crest histories added).

glasgow FS 1977 jubilee shirt22 October: Now here's something of an oddity, spotted by Willie Kay. It was worn in a match at Hampden Park as part of the queen's silver jubilee celebrations in 1977 between a Glasgow FA Select XI and a team representing the Football League. Eagle eyed visitors will have spotted that the top incorporates the colours of all five of the Scottish Football League teams based in the city. It was worn with red shorts with yellow trim and black/white socks.

Motherwell (1992-94 texture added).

grimsby town 1938-39 match worn shirt21 October: Genuine match worn shirts from before the Second World War are extremely rare because old first team kits were passed on to the reserves and then the junior teams until they literally fell apart. Those that have survived are usually from special matches kept as souvenirs such as this Grimsby Town shirt, worn in the FA Cup semi-final of 1939. (Grimsby 1909-10 strip added).

The attractive white strip with orange/blue sash worn by Halifax Town in 1971-72 has been moved to the Iconic Away Kits section. Chris Connelly explains, Halifax had an away game at Bournemouth coming up and their tangerine would clash with Bournemouth's red and black stripes. Halifax's away kit was green and black stripes so this offered no solution. The club went round the top manufacturers but none could provide a new strip in time for the game, so they went to a local factory who provided them with the one on your site. The article in Football League Review went on to say that Halifax were considering changing their home kit for 1972/3 and that this one would be an option, but in the end they went for a modified version, white but without the diagonal stripes.

Blackburn Rovers (1896-97, 1903-04 added): Ashington (1914-20 amended): Newcastle United (1902-03, 1912-13, 1913-14 added): Tottenham Hotspur (one-off kit worn at Leeds in 1977 added):

2010-11 updates: Barnet (sponsorship added), Walsall (3rd), Republic of Ireland (A, 3rd added), Sheffield Wednesday (3rd), Nottingham Forest (3rd), Rochdale (4th).

lilywhite & blue book cover7 October: HFK would like to commend Jeff Maysh's recently published history of Spur's shirts. Lilywhite & Blue is illustrated with excellent photographs of rare, match-worn shirts from 1950 to the present, Jeff provides an informative commentary on each entry. This slim volume is an essential addition to the library of every Spurs' fan and those who have an interest in modern football shirt history. To order your own copy, click on the image left.

The Southport section has been revised with new information about the club's Victorian origins revealed on Port Online. John Small has founded references in contemporary newspapers to Notts County wearing "black and orange" in December 1879. Journalists' descriptions of the period were often misleading since clubs did not register their colours at this stage and we assume this refers to a deep shade of amber.

Brentford (1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98 amended).

 

4 October - 2010-11 Additions: Millwall (125th anniversary kit), Middlesbrough (latest shirt sponsor), Elgin City (A), Peterhead (A)

30 September - 2010-11 Updates: Barnet (A added).

Historical Updates: Partick Thistle (1987-89, 1989-90, 1991-93, 1993-94 detailing altered and crest history added.): Wolverhampton Wanderers (1969-70, 1970-72 corrected; crest history added): Chelsea (1918-19 added).

huddersfield Town team group 1914-1529 September: It is quite difficult to establish Huddersfield Town's kit record in the years leading up to the First World War due to contradictory dating of some of the photographs from the period. This fine team picture is, I think, from 1914-15 and shows the side wearing unusual striped shirts. We are also still trying to pin down when the original lightish blue stripes were switched to mid-blue, and now have evidence that darker stripes were worn in 1933-34.

Preston North End (1903-04, 1931-32): Aldershot (1926-39 corrected). Christopher Worrall has untangled the complicated history of Queen's Park Rangers shirts from the Seventies and Eighties, when several different versions of their broad hoops often appeared in the same season. These have now been added and many other Rangers' strips have been revised from material submitted by Chris and Keith Ellis. A crest history has also been added.

airdrieonians fc 191226 September: We have some exciting new historical material to post today from Keith Ellis, starting with Leeds City (1905-16, 1912-13, 1917-18 added; 1910-11 socks confirmed): Birmingham (1925-26 collar added): Leeds United (1947-48, Aug-Sept 1948 added): South Shields (1912, 1925-26, 1927-28 added): Airdrieonians (1909-12 redrawn - see photo left of this unusual strip): Southend United (1914-15, 1930-31 added, 1919-20 socks amended).

25 September - 2010-11 updates: Cardiff City (new away kit added), Ipswich Town (3rd added).

Historical Updates: AFC Bournemouth (2000-02 corrected): Watford (1963-64 amended): Forfar Athletic (1992-94 arsenal 1929-30 team groupdetailing added): Hamilton Academical (1993-94 collar corrected): Southampton (1998-99 added; 1985-87 badge removed from shorts).

The photograph is of Arsenal taken in 1928-29, found by Jonathon Russell in the club's archive and now added to HFK. Note how shabby the jerseys are, with collars and cuffs a scruffy grey (or dirty red) from repeated washing. Unusually the players have retained the laces at the collar; these were usually discarded as the tops aged. Their 1933-34 change kit has also been added to the Arsenal Away Kit section.

Oldham Athletic (1916-17, 1919-20, 1920-22 added): Republic of Ireland (1994 change strips amended): Brentford (1987-88 manufacturer identified): West Ham United (1976 European Cup Winners' Cup final kit added).

nelson fc 1922-23 team group24 September: We are sad to report the news that Nelson FC have been formally wound up. Remarkably the club, which resigned from the North-West Counties League in July is the fourth to have carried the name. The previous versions went out of business in 1889, 1916 and 1936. It was the third incarnation that played in the Football League between 1921 and 1931, winning the Third Division (North) title in 1923 (pictured left). The latest side were formed as Nelson Town immediately after the former league club went out of business.

Elgin City (1986-88, 1990-91, 1991-93, 1998-99, 1999-2000 added, 2010-11 sponsorship added): Crystal Palace (1909-10 added): Motherwell (1994-96 texture added to shirt): Brentford (makers branding applied to graphics 1982-86): Yeovil Town (1909-10 added): Lincoln City (1971-72 badge modified): Wales (new away kit added).

22 September: Writing in today's Guardian Online, Mehreen Khan criticises English Premier League clubs for flouting the voluntary agreement that, in theory at least, means clubs should retain each of their strips for two seasons. His comments come as Everton prepare to launch their latest "vanilla" third strip.

Other 2010-11 Updates: Brentford have switched from red to blacks socks, Leicester City (away kit sponsorship added), Middlesbrough (September's sponsor added), Chesterfield (cuff trim added to away shirt), Motherwell (shorts sponsorship added).

Denis Hurley has launched a new site dedicated to the history of Gaelic Football and Hurling shirts, Pride in the Jersey. Well worth a visit.

burton united 1905-06 team group21 September: The photograph on the left is of Burton United in 1905-06 wearing a previously unrecorded strip, one of several team groups from the period sent to us by Richard Essen. So far no written corroboration has come to light and, given United's history of frequent changes, it is hard to establish exactly what colour the shirts are, but it seems likely they were maroon.

Swansea City (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96 detailing amended): Oldham Athletic (1961-62 added): Millwall (1895-96 neckline amended): Arsenal (1914-15 additional strip added): Halifax Town (1950-52 maroon/blue strip confirmed): Northwich Victoria (1874 added).

r roberston st mirren fc 190919 September: According to Google Analytics, HFK attracted more than one million visits over the last 12 months compared to 878,000 in the equivalent period 2008-09, an increase of 21%.

St Mirren (1907-10, 1912-14 collars amended). The picture on the left is of R Robertson who played for the Saints around 1909. Note the surprisingly modern crew neck line.

Arsenal (1914-15 added): Sheffield Wednesday (1904-05, 1930 added): Southampton (1889-90 socks corrected, 1987-89 collar corrected): West Ham United (1903-05 cuffs amended): Leeds City (1914-15 added): Brentford (1995-96 corrected): Rotherham County (1924-25 amended): Everton (1938-39 added, 1907-08, 1931-32, 1934-35 corrected).

darlington fc 1907-08 team groupAmong the historical treasures Keith Ellis has been seeking out for us is this fine photograph of Darlington taken in the 1907-08 season. The fact that Darlo wore once wore quartered shirts came to light only recently on HFK and this research pushes the time frame back by three seasons.

2010-11 updates: Chelsea (3rd detailing amended), Hamilton Academical (A added, 3rd amended).

hartlepools united 1962-6314 September: Aston Villa (1956 - Jan 1957 added. This lacked the crest that was added during Villa's FA Cup run during 1957): West Bromwich Albion (1881-82 Staffordshire knot added to shirt), Nottingham Forest (1902, 1934-35, 1952-53 added, 1884-85, 1892-99, 1899-1900, 1904-05 revised): Derby County (1901-02, 1910-11 added): Rochdale (1952-53 added): Hartlepools United (1962-63 added - pictured left).

 

12 September: HFK's postbag has been bulging with comments on the new England strip, few of them complimentary. Criticism is levelled at the FA's decision to abandon the usual two-year cycle and the cost: as one correspondent points out, Umbro have now introduced three new England shirts in 18 months each one retailing for £50. The inclusion of tiny crosses of St George across the shoulders in red, blue, green and purple (to reflect the multicultural nature of English football and reclaim the cross motif from the far-right) has not been well received either.

2010-11 additions: Rochdale (3rd), Watford (H, A detailing corrected), Rangers (3rd corrected), QPR (A, 3rd socks now confirmed), St Mirren (3rd).

J thomson, Everton fc 1929-30David Franks, a regular HFK contributor who has spent a lifetime collecting Everton memorabilia (now available to the public as the Everton Collection) has been in touch to confirm that when the team were formed as St Domingo's FC in 1878, they played in blue and white vertical stripes: this is the earliest reference to this style of shirt that has yet come to light. (Most references to stripes in this period were to horizontal hoops.) Our featured photograph, which comes from much later, shows the unique collar trim worn when the club briefly reverted to Cambridge blue jerseys in 1929-30, a fact David has also confirmed. In a similar vein, Aston Villa's official historian, John Lerwill has confirmed that the club wore red and blue hoops from their formation in 1874 until 1877.

Thanks to Gary Black, our records for Dumbarton have been updated with appropriate crests from 1977 and various detailing added. Although the Son's have traditionaly worn gold, black and white, yellow and even orange have featured in their strips over the last thirty years.

5 September: Following this weekend's round of international matches the new England strip and Northern Ireland's alternative away kit have been added to the International Section.

2010-11 updates: Rangers (3rd), York City (H - they appear to have opted for red rather than navy shorts this season after all), Crewe Alexandra (A socks amended), Notts County (Meadow Lane Centenary), Millwall (A shorts amended).

brntford 1989 centenary badgeEddie Hutchinson writes with this anecdote about the Brentford centenary badge we added recently: I was taken back in time by your mention of the joke bee emblem that my local team and League faves, Brentford, used for their centenary. I can add that it was turned into an inflatable, and several thousand were made for Brentford’s FA Cup quarter-final at Liverpool. Typically, the manufacturers didn’t leave enough seam around the edges, meaning that Anfield was filled with the sound of about 3,000 bees being blown up and then blowing up!

30 August: I am grateful to Graham Barr of www.oxkits.co.uk for providing artwork that has enabled us to improve the presentation of shirt sponsors from 1982 to the present in the Oxford United section.

Torquay United (1987-88 added, 1986-87 corrected): York City (2010-11 shorts corrected, kit manufacturer 1991-95 identified): Bradford Park Avenue (1954-56 stripe added to shorts), Brentford (1931-32, 1951-52 added, 1948-49 socks corrected and an authentic photograph of the ludicrous 1989 centenary crest has been added, thanks to Nick Bruzon): Bristol Rovers (1958-62 cuffs corrected): Doncaster Rovers (1955-56 added): Bristol Rovers (1906-07 added).

29 August - 2010-11 additions: Airdrie United (A), Partick Thistle (A*), Albion Rovers (A*).

*Unchanged.

Historical Updates: Chelsea (1944-45 added, 1910-11 change kit added): Yeovil Town (1948-49 collar amended): East Stirlingshire (eight strips worn between August 1980 and May 1984 added): Falkirk (1980-81, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1987-88 added; 1981-82, 1982-83, 1985-86, 1989-90 detailing corrected): Stenhousemuir (1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83, April 1983, March 1984, April 1984, Jan 1985 added; 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1988-89 amended): Scotland (1980-82, 1982-85 change socks corrected).

28 August: Wolves (1970-72, 1986-88 sock detailing added), Partick Thistle (1990-91 alternate sponsorship logo added), Inverness Thistle (1969-70, 1977-79 added, 1974-77, 1979-80 corrected), Motherwell (1987-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1994-96 detailing amended).

25 August - 2010-11 additions: Oxford United (3rd), Peterborough United (3rd).

sunderland v cambuslang 1888Historical Updates: Paul Robinson has been researching Sunderland's early kits for us and with his help, we have been able to piece together an accurate record for the period 1885-1889, pin down the exact date when the famous red and white stripes were worn for the first time and post photographs of the crests worn in the 1913 and 1937 FA Cup finals. The photograph on the left shows Sunderland (in stripes) with the players of Cambuslang FC before a friendly on 8 September 1888. This may well be the only surviving photograph of the Glasgow side.

Watford (1921-22 added), England (1960 v Spain, 1963 v Brazil amended), Brentford (crest and some detailing amended on graphics 1981-94), Cowdenbeath (2003-04 sponsors logo amended).

aberdare athletic 192421 August: Bolton Wanderers (1908-11 collar amended), Queen's Park Rangers (1886-92 added), Exeter City (1922 added), Manchester City (1898 added), Accrington Stanley (1946-47, 1947-48 added), Carlisle United (1946-47 confirmed), Barrow (1946-47 added), Gateshead (1946-47 added), Aberdare Athletic (1924-27 detailing amended - see photo left), Crystal Palace (1909-10 collar amended), Notts County (1922-23 added), Barnsley (1964-1965 added), Huddersfield Town (1918-19, 1926-27 added, 1909-11 socks confirmed, 1991-92 sponsors logo corrected).

new brighton fc 1936 team group20 August: Exeter City (1928-29 added), Hull City (1914-15 corrected), Swindon Town (1922-23 added, 1908-09 socks confirmed), Wolves (1921-22, 1925-26, 1927-28 added), New Brighton (1936 detailing amended- pictured left), Southport (1936-37 added), Everton (1929-30 shirt trim now confirmed), Liverpool (1945-46 added, Scotland (1905-09 crest corrected), Fulham (crest revised on graphics 1947-73).

18 August - 2010-11 additions: Tottenham Hotspur (Eur/Cup sponsor added), Kilmarnock (A updated, 3rd added), Berwick Rangers (A*), Clyde (H, A socks confirmed), Stenhousemuir (A), Cardiff City (A), Queen's Park Rangers (3rd), Cambridge United (H).

*Unchanged

Historical updates: Kilmarnock (1994-95, 1995-86 corrected), Queen's Park (1988-89 added), Ross County (1984-85 added).

16 August - 2010-11 additions: Motherwell (sponsorship added), Burton Albion (A). We now have all the English and Scottish home kits recorded with just a handful of away kits remaining to be confirmed. These will be added as they are unveiled over the next few weeks and we will, as usual post new third and alex james of arsenalspecial edition kits throughout the season. Our warmest thanks go to the many correspondents who have contributed over the summer. Their names are given under each club entry in the season galleries. Please note that all comments found on these galleries are those of HFK and not contributors.

Historical Updates: Today's photograph is of the great Alex James wearing the Arsenal strip from 1931-32. James was reknowned for his enormous "shorts."

West Ham United (1954-55 floodlight kit added; more accurate crests added to 1960-61, 1964 FA Cup Final and 1953-55 graphics), St Mirren (1961-62, 1963-64 added, leeds city team group 1916-171968-69 crest redrawn), Grimsby Town (1930, 1953-54 added, 1906-08, 1908-10, 1910-23, 1957-58 amended), Sheffield United (1912-13 added, collar and some other detailing amended on 1904-06, 1913-15, 1922-23, 1949-54, 1954-55 graphics).

Leeds City (1911-13, 1913-14, 1914-17 amended). The photograph on the left shows the City team in 1916-17 for a wartime match. Allegations that the club had paid guest players during the Great War led them to be expelled from the Football League a couple of years later. Note the knee pads.

15 August: It now appears that Coca Cola's sponsorship of the Scottish Premier League does not extend to naming rights, which remain with the Clydesdale Bank until 2013. This error, which was due to ambiguous press releases, has now been corrected.

2010-11 additions: Hamilton Academical (H*, 3rd*), Kilmarnock (A), Montrose (H*, A*), Airdrie United (H), Stenhousemuir (H), Stirling Albion (A), Dagenham & Redbridge (A socks confirmed), Sheffield United (3rd).

*Unchanged

leicester fosse circa 1895 team group13 August: Gary Silke has helped tidy up our records for Leicester City 1904-1921 as well as supplying considerable detail for other kits. Further contributions from Keith Ellis have been posted as well. (1903-15 graphics amended, 1924-25, 1932-33 added, accurate period crest added to 1948-52, 1989-90, 1975-76 added). Our photograph dates from the mid-1890s and shows the team, then known as Leicester Fosse, in the white shirts of the period.

Nottingham Forest (1909-10, 1912-22, 1945-46 added), Portsmouth (1922-23 added), Brentford (1926-27, 1965-66 added), Lincoln City (1922, 1957-58 added, 1997-98, 2001-02 shorts corrected), Oldham Athletic (1922 added), Bury (1955-56 added), Preston North End (1908-10 added), Derby County (1905-06 added).

 

12 August: The new Welsh home strip has been added as has their kit from 1901-02, recently discovered by Simon Shakeshaft. We now believe this was the first season that Wales played in red shirts.

2010-11 additions: Stirling Albion (H), Portsmouth (3rd), Lincoln City (3rd), Stockport County (3rd), Boston United (H), Shrewsbury Town (H updated), Mansfield Town (H), Port Vale (H socks confirmed).

11 August - 2010-11 additions: Cowdenbeath (H, A), Peterhead (H), Ayr United (H, A updated - a change of mind), Raith Rovers (A), Falkirk (A).

9 August - 2010-11 additions: Bradford City (3rd - a stunner!), Dunfermline Athletic (H. A), Birmingham City (3rd), Blackburn Rovers (3rd*), Blackpool (A), Chelsea (3rd), Fulham (A, 3rd), Manchester United (3rd), West Bromwich Albion (3rd), Wigan Athletic (A), Macclesfield Town (A*), Aldershot Town (A socks confirmed), Barnet (kit worn in opening match added - news of official strips is still pending), Stevenage (socks updated).

luton town 125th anniversary strip photo*Unchanged.

Several clubs have introduced retro designs this season to celebrate special anniversaries, reflecting the growing interest among supporters and clubs in their heritage. Notable among these are Southampton, Bradford City, Millwall and Shrewsbury Town. Luton Town, who are celebrating their 125th anniversary have introduced this wonderful special edition strip, worn against Great Marlow last month and to be used again in late October, which is modelled on their original colours. Comments on club discussion boards as well as e-mails we have received from club officials and supporters suggest that HFK is instrumental in this trend, something that we here at HFK Towers take considerable pride in.

Fulham (1956-57 added).

ayr united shirt 1937-387 August - 2010-11 additions: Hartlepool United (A), Portsmouth (A), Charlton Athletic (A), Leicester City (shirt sponsor added).

Leeds United (1939-40 added, 1944-45, 1980-81, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96 amended and the ridiculous sock tags worn 1973-1977 have been redrawn). Motherwell (1937-38 added), Dunfermline Athletic (1937-38 added), Ayr United (1937-38 added and pictured left), St Mirren (1937-38 added), Arsenal (1932-33 socks amended).

6 August - 2010-11 additions: Torquay United (A), Stoke City (A), Falkirk (H).

Thanks to Steve Phillipps, Rochdale's historian, the early history of 'Dale's kits has been tidied up. I am also grateful to Andrew Moran, who provided artwork blackpool fc 1913-14 team groupthat has allowed us to render the Liverpool crest used 1987-92 more accurately.

Cardiff City (1987-88 collar detailing corrected), Carlisle United (1961-63 hooped strip confirmed), Blackpool (1913-14 [pictured left] added, 1902, 1910-13, 1938-39, 2004-05 amended), Millwall (white cuffs added to graphics 1946-50, collar corrected on 1936-39), Brentford (1939-40 added, 1942-48 amended), Swindon Town (1966-67 added), Wimbledon (1990-91 missing sleeve trim added).

5 August - 2010-11 additions: Kilmarnock (H), Celtic (A), AFC Bournemouth (3rd), Nottingham Forest (A), Norwich City (A*), Cheltenham Town (A), Lincoln City (A*).

(*unchanged)

4 August - 2010-11 additions: Annan Athletic (H*, A*), Derby County (A), Manchester City (H), Rotherham United (A*), Notts County (A), Wrexham (H), Queen's Park (H*, A*), Brechin City (H, A), Greenock Morton (H, A), Ross County (H, A), Manchester United (A).

(*unchanged)

1 August - 2010-11 additions: Scunthorpe United (A socks confirmed), Sunderland (A shirt colour modified), York City (H), Leeds United (A, 3rd), Portsmouth (H), Grimsby Town (H), Middlesbrough (H, A missing details added), Celtic (3rd/Euro), Clyde (H, A), Alloa Athletic (H).

Rochdale (1976-77 additional shirt added).

30 July - 2010-11 additions: Doncaster Rovers (A detailing added), Bury (H socks confirmed).

29 July - 2010-11 additions: Watford (A), Reading (3rd), Manchester City (A, 3rd shorts detailing corrected), Doncaster Rovers (H, A), Nottingham Forest (H), Rochdale (H, A), Hereford United (H, A*), Dagenham & Redbridge (H*, 3rd),

(*unchanged)

26 July - 2010-11 additions: Swindon Town (A, 3rd), Barnsley (A), Albion Rovers (H*), East Fife (H, A), Stranraer (H), Arbroath (H, A, 3rd).

*Unchanged.

25 July - 2010-11 additions: East Stirlingshire (H, A), Aldershot Town (H, A), Manchester City (detailing on A and 3rd kit corrected).

motherwell fc 1920-21Historical Updates: Rochdale (1993-94 sock detailing added), Portsmouth (1909-11 socks amended, 1934 FA Cup final crest corrected), Motherwell (1913-24 [pictured left], 1985-87, 1989-90 details amended), Huddersfield Town (1913-15 added, 1969-70, 1978-79 badges corrected), Walsall (crest and sponsors logos more accurately rendered on kits 1995-2007), Oldham Athletic (1982-83, 1983-84 added, 1987-88, 1988-89 collar corrected).

23 July - 2010-11 additions: Yeovil Town (A), Wigan Athletic (H sleeve trim corrected), Bolton Wanderers (A), West Ham United (H), Burton Albion (H shorts detailing amended & socks confirmed), Leicester City (details amended), Sheffield United (H, A), Crewe Alexandra (H, A), Bristol City (A), Manchester City (A), Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H), Oldham Athletic (3rd), Dundee United (A).

Scotland's new away kit has been added to the International Section.

20 July - 2010-11 additions: Heart of Midlothian (H, A), Millwall (A), Peterborough United (A), Chesterfield (H, A), Morecambe (H, A), Wigan Athletic (H), Blackpool (H detailing updated).

19 July: Tim Ashmore has kindly given us permission to reproduce his collection of photographs of Manchester United's crests and these have now been added to the club section. You can view large format versions and read Tim's informative commentary at RedCafe.net.

18 July - 2010-11 additions: Rangers (A), Livingston (A), Berwick Rangers (H*, A*), Tottenham Hotspur (Eur), Preston North End (sponsorship updated), Stevenage (H, A), Blackpool (H), Derby County (H), Burton Albion (H), Oxford United (A), Wycombe Wanderers (H*, A).

*Unchanged.

16 July - 2010-11 additions: Liverpool (3rd), Fulham (H), Huddersfield Town (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H & A socks now confirmed), Aston Villa (H, A), Manchester United (H socks updated), Crystal Palace (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H, A, 3rd), Queens Park Rangers (A), Bristol City (A).

13 July - 2010-11 additions: Birmingham City (H socks amended), Millwall (short trim amended), Leicester City (3rd shirt logos now wycombe wanderers team group 1896-97placed correctly).

Historical Updates: With the World Cup over we now have time to catch up on some of the historical material that's been sitting in the pending tray for the past couple of months. We start with this fine photograph of Wycombe Wanderers from 1896-97 submitted by Dave Peatey, our Wycombe expert. (1896-97, 1966-67, 1976-77 & crest history added).

Sunderland (1889-90, 1890-91, 1902-04, 1911-12, 1919-21 & crest history added).

12 July - 2010-11 additions: Forfar Athletic (A), Millwall (H), Southampton (A), Ipswich Town (H*), Hartlepool United (H*, 3rd*), Manchester United (H + crest history added), Leicester City (H, A, 3rd).

*Unchanged from 2009-10.

11 July - 2010-11 additions: Reading (H, A), Sunderland (H), West Bromwich Albion (H, A), Charlton Athletic (H), Plymouth Argyle (H), Middlesbrough (H, A), Hull City (H), Swindon Town (H).

10 July - 2010-11 additions: Raith Rovers (H), Queen of the South (Sponsorship added), Partick Thistle (H), West Ham United (A), Shrewsbury Town (H, A), Sunderland (H).

7 July: 2020-11 additions - Bradford City (A), Hull City (A), Oxford United (H + crest history added), Bury (H), Lincoln City (H), Macclesfield Town (H), Scunthorpe United (A), Notts County (H), Kidderminster Harriers (H).

4 July: Those who have been following our World Cup updates may have noticed a few oddities in the the dramatic quarter-final stage. For example, Ghana moved the numbers on the front of their Roy of the Rovers shirts up to the shoulder to make them more visible while most of the Uruguayan team played with the flappy collars on their shirts tucked inside. Inexplicably, both Argentina and Germany wore black shorts in their match, something they are not supposed to do but which certainly did not cause the mass confusion that FIFA seem to think such clashes would create.

2 July: 2010-11 additions - Gillingham (H, A), Elgin City (H), Dumbarton (H), Forfar Athletic (H).

1 July: 2010-11 additions - Blackburn Rovers (H), Peterborough United (H), Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (H).

28 June: I've had a lot of enquiries about the reasons behind the kit changes we are seeing in South Africa. Sean's e-mail is typical:

Why is FIFA being so anal about change kits these last couple World Cups? Yesterday alone, England were in red shorts when they could wear the usual white. Does FIFA really think that England's white shorts are going to clash with Germany's white shirts and socks and Argentina wore blue shorts when there was no reason they couldn't wear black. I understand, for example, when Italy plays France, it's best to have one of them wear all white and one wear all blue, (because blue-white-blue (or red) v. white-blue-white (or red) could be a problem) but the above examples really annoy me.

FIFA's competition regulations require not only that colours do not clash but also there is a high degree of contrast between teams. In principle this means one should play in a dark strip the other in a light one, but the rules are not consistently interpreted: this is FIFA after all.

So red v blue seems to be OK but green v gold (Mexico v S Africa) is not. But Mexico's green was OK against Uruguay in light blue. I suspect commercial considerations are at work as well. Every team is guaranteed one match at least in their first choice kit but I have the impression they have also been showcasing their second choice strips in matches where they were not strictly necessary.

I have no idea why Argentina wore blue shorts and socks yesterday. As for England, they may have worn all-red because they won in it last time out but more likely FIFA would not register white as their second choice shorts, because these are the same colour as their first choice (another FIFA reg).

I agree it's all very petty and annoying. Everyone wants to see their national teams playing in their recognised first or second choice strips and not these cobbled together mash ups, but FIFA has been interfering in this at least as far back as 1966 and there's no chance that they are going to change their ways. After all if their officials were not busy with this sort of thing, they would have to address less important issues like ensuring match officials do not make almighty cock ups.

27 June: 2010-11 Additions - Stockport County (H, A), Sheffield Wednesday (H), AFC Bournemouth (H socks confirmed), DC United (piping corrected on shirt), Vancouver Whitecaps (2011 MLS kit added).

26 June: Our match-by-match coverage of the FIFA World Cup is now complete for the group stages. FIFA have not published details of the strips to be worn during the knock-out phase so this section will be updated as the tournament progresses.

2010-11 additions: Brighton (A), Colchester United (H, A), Cardiff City (H), Brentford (H, A).

25 June: 2010-11 additions - Hibernian (H), St Johnstone (H, A), Ayr United (H, A, 3rd).

20 July: 2010-11 additions - Swansea City (A), Tranmere Rovers (H), Newcastle United (A, 3rd), Dundee United (H).

stanimirov leeds united shirt15 June: While we are currently focussed on both the serious business of recording World Cup kits and the new English and Scottish club kits for 2010-11, it is nice to be reminded that HFK has a rather more whimsical side. Regular visitors will remember the excellent Dr Stefan Stanimirov who practices at the Medical University of Pleven in northern Bulgaria and whom we featured on 16 April. Dr Stanimirov designs and produces his own ward gowns based on famous football shirts. His latest creation celebrates Leeds United's promotion to the Championship and their win over Manchester United in last season's FA Cup. The instrument he is brandishing is a fibre-optic bronchoscope and not a bull-whip at all so there is no need to be afraid.

2010-11 additions - Liverpool (A), Milton Keynes Dons (H, A, 3rd), Arsenal (A).

13 June: 2010-11 additions - Dundee (H, A), Motherwell (H, A), Swansea City (H), Leeds United (A), Carlisle United (H, A), Southampton (H), Port Vale (H).

Don't forget that our World Cup 2010 section is being updated regularly as the competition progresses.

10 June: On the eve of the grand opening ceremony in Johannesburg, we have today expanded our own FIFA World Cup Finals 2010 section to include a match-by-match record of every kit worn in the tournament. This is now complete for the group stages and as the Knock Out Stages progress, the section will be updated, making HFK the definitive record of World Cup 2010 kits.

stoke fc 1906-078 June: Coming soon - HFK's match by match record of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Stoke City are, of course, associated with red and white stripes and we have today added a number of previously unrecorded versions and amended other graphics of this famous strip. It is worth remembering that between 1897 and 1908, the original Stoke FC usually wore plain claret jerseys as shown on the left. (1922-23, 1926 added, 1938-45, 1946-49 amended).

Northampton Town (1987-88 added), Burton Albion (2005-06, 2006 special kit added, detailing amended on 1994-2005 strips), West Bromwich Albion (2004-05 socks corrected),

Cardiff City's iconic 1975-77 strip and Plymouth Argyle's all green 1965-67 kit now feature in our Classic Kits section.

harrow football team 1862This famous picture of a Harrow School team from 1862 is one of the earliest known photographs of a football team. Harrow were one of the public schools from which the modern game evolved and Harrow Rules are still used to this day in the annual inter-house competition, in which each team plays in their own uniquely coloured shirts, which maintain the tradition of narrow stripes. Thanks to Jonathon Russell, we have established that the school team, which would have played once a year against an old boys' team, wore magenta and black, the colours of Harrow School.

falkirk 1959-60 team group7 June: 2010-11 additions - Exeter City (H, 3rd), Rotherham United (H), AFC Bournemouth (A), Scunthorpe United (H, A)

Historical Updates: Stirling Albion (1995-96 socks corrected), Ayr United (1999-2000 detailing amended), Morton (1981-84 sock trim added), Ross County (1998-99 sock trim added), Southampton (1895-96, 1900-01, 1901-02 added, August 1989 socks corrected), Wednesday (1903-04 added), Falkirk (1959-60 added - pictured left), Everton (1992-93 third kit added).

6 June: 2010-11 additions - Watford (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (H, A), Cheltenham Town (H), Southend United (H, A), Leyton Orient (H, A), Oldham Athletic (H), Sheffield Wednesday (A), Accrington Stanley (H,A), AFC Bournemouth (H), Rangers (H), Celtic (H), Aberdeen (H), Queen of the South (H,A).

Northern Ireland (2010-2012 home kit added). Seattle Sounders (2010 third kit added).

3 June: The eagerly awaited 2010-11 galleries for England and Scotland are now open and the annual game of I-Spy can begin. As usual, we are asking visitors to let us know as new kits are released over the summer. Please note that we need full details and not just pictures of shirts and we will only post graphics of kits we can confirm from official sources.

We have been able to track down the details of the strips that North Korea will be wearing in South Africa later this month. They are made by an Italian company, Legea, whose UK base happens to be just a few miles down the road from HFK Towers in South Wales.

23 May: Grimsby Town (1928-29 added, crest history added), Darlington (crest history added), Derby County (crest history added), Airdrieonians (1961-62 socks corrected, crest history added), Morton (1963-64 added, crest history added), Motherwell (1913-24 collar details amended, 1951-52 cuffs corrected, crest history added), St Johnstone (1971-72 added, crest history added).

22 May: Rochdale (1919-20, 1936 added, 1966-67 crest added, 1998-2000 corrected), Brighton (1980-1987 correct Adidas logos applied), Sheffield Wednesday (crest history added), Coventry City (1948-51 socks amended), Notts County (crest history added), Newcastle United (1907-08 added), Manchester City (1960-61 socks amended), Aberdeen (1907-08 added, 1993-94 collar & cuff trim corrected), East Fife (1948-49 added).

21 May: Bolton Wanderers (1958 FA Cup final strip now has the correct commemorative crest), Blackpool (1970-71 corrected), St Mirren (1956-57, 2010-11 added).

royal artillery fc 189519 May: The military gentleman on the left is Bombardier Hannah, captain of the Royal Artillery team with the impressive Army Cup at the end of the 1894-95 season. The team were based in Portsmouth and competed succesfully in the Southern League until they were reported to the authorities after the players spent a week at a health spa at the Army's expense. This was held to be a breach of the strict rules on professionalism. The team were expelled in 1898 and the newly formed Portsmouth FC took their place. RAFC soldiered on (see what I did there?) until 1901 when they disbanded.

The photograph is from Pompey, the History of Portsmouth FC (Neesom, Cooper & Robinson 1984) provided by Richard Essen. Click on the image to view the full size picture: of interest are the medals worn by the players (awarded for the football competitions the team won rather than military campaigns). Bombardier Harms, reclining left, sports a badge on his shirt, suggesting he had been selected for the Hampshire FA. The players are from the ranks, the trainer is the Regimental Sergeant Major and the Treasurer is an officer. That's all you need to know about how amateur football was organised in the late 19th century. This strip now appears in our Eminent Victorians section.

Richard has also uncovered from the same source written evidence that the shade of blue worn by Portsmouth between 1912 and 1933 was paler than we had believed and that shirts of a "darker blue" were adopted from the 1933-34 season.

Wolves (1968-69 added), Blackburn Rovers (1952-55, 1959-60 added and we have established the team wore V necks until 1966), Shrewsbury Town (1978-79 collar corrected, crest history added), Hibernian (1961-64 socks corrected), Wigan Athletic (1967-68 added).

Thanks to Keith Ellis, Christopher Worrall and Rumwold Leigh, more missing detailing has been added to various strips featured in our FA Cup Finalists sections. Pride of place goes to the discovery that both Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers wore strips made from shiny fabric in the 1953 final and hitherto unrecorded details of Newcastle United's 1911 strip, which we believe marked the first occasion that Toon wore a crest on their shirts.

18 May: It has been announced on Stevenage Borough's official website that the club will revert to their original name, Stevenage FC, from 1 June. Thanks to Lloyd Briscoe we have further updates for the club (1976-80 added, 1985-86, 1990-91, 1991-92 amended).

The 1980-89 FA Cup Finalists section has had several amendments to detailing, mainly commemorative embroidery; thanks to Chris Worrall.

Historical updates: Berwick Rangers (1994-95 added), Ross County (1990-93 corrected), Montrose (1992-94 corrected), Newcastle United (1995-2000 shirts now show the correct Newcastle Brown sponsorship, 1969 Fairs Cup Final kit added, crest history added).

portsmouth 1902-03 team17 May: This has been a thoroughly difficult season for followers of Portsmouth so I thought it might be some small compensation to reproduce this photograph of the 1902-03 team, wearing the pink and maroon shirts that provided the inspiration behind the strip worn in Saturday's FA Cup Final. The trophies on display are the Southern and Western League Championships and the Portsmouth Cup. We have received a good deal of material on the club recently and have now posted this in the Portsmouth section along with a crest history. (1902-13, 1906-17, 1912-13, 1955-56 alternate, 1961-62 alternate, 1962-63 alternate, 1966-67 added).

I'm grateful to Lloyd Briscoe of the Stevenage Borough Supporters' Association for offering to research missing strips for our new Stevenage Borough section. The first fruits of his work have been posted today. (1983-84, 1985-86 x 2, 1988-90, 1992-93 added, missing sponsors now added to 1989-90 and 1991-92 shirts).

2010-11 additions: Burnley, Brighton.

15 May: The strips worn in yesterday's FA Cup final have been added as has Fulham's strip, worn in the Europa League final last week.

2010-11 additions: Northampton Town*, Leeds United*, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

*Crest history added.

14 May: Intriguing evidence from a rare match programme, spotted by Roy Cathcart and supplied by Jonny Dewart, has come to light that Ireland wore green shirts rather than their usual St Patrick's blue when they met England in 1903. In addition, the crest worn between 1952 and 1957 by Northern Ireland is now more accurately union flag 1918rendered. George Chilvers, meanwhile, offers this technical information that may well explain why early Irish shirts appeared pale blue: I saw your comments about the tone of blue in the Irish shirts and wonder if something I came across many years ago may be relevant. Victorian or Edwardian camera processes meant that the plates were very receptive to red light but not to blue. This means that blue, even quite a dark blue, produces quite a light grey image on a black and white (negative) plate. This photograph of the union flag taken shortly after the First World War illustrates the point.

12 May: Congratulations to Stevenage Borough, who will take their place in the Football League next season for the first time, having won the Blue Square National Conference last month. Their kit history has now been added to the site.

8 May: Due to stock availability and changes to the sites of Subside Sports and Kitbag, a large number of links we provide for visitors wishing to buy replica kits have become broken. These have now been repaired for English Premier League clubs and we will progressively renew or remove these for other clubs.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Second choice strips for Chile, Honduras and Slovakia have been added.

Historical Updates: Brighton & Hove Albion (Sept-Nov 1973, Nov 1973-Jan 1974, Jan-March 1974 added).

5 May: While the Norfolk Ancestors website is primarily a local history resource, it includes a splendid section devoted to Norwich City from which we have been able to capture a considerable amount of new detail on the team's early strips (1907-08, 1920-21 added, 1908-09, 1910-11, 1912-13, 1913-14, 1921-23, 1923-25, 1959-60 amended).

2009-10 additions: Crystal Palace (Supporters' Trust shirt), Liverpool (Chinese logo).

2010-11 additions: Preston North End, Crystal Palace, Queen's Park Rangers, Bradford City, Coventry City.

3 May: Notts County (1937-38 added), Fulham (1945-46 added), New Brighton (1937-38 added), Southampton (socks redrawn 1957-1967), Everton (1930-31 crest added).

2 May: Motherwell (2006-07 cuffs corrected), Liverpool (1933-34 added), Blackpool (1938-39 added), Charlton Athletic (1964-65, 1965-66 cuffs corrected), Notts County (1953-54 added), Dundee United (2001-02, 2002-03 sponsorship corrected), Sheffield Wednesday (1933-34, 1953-54 added), Plymouth Argyle (1962-63 added), Stoke City (1957-58 added), Huddersfield Town (1951-52 added), Bradford Park Avenue (1926-31 detailing amended), South Shields (1920-21 added), West Ham United (1961-62 added), Scotland (2008-10 third kit details amended), Chelsea (1929-30 added), York City (1948-50 cuffs corrected).

Uruguay's second choice strip has been added to the FIFA World Cup 2010 section.

glossop 1904-0530 April: Glossop (1904-05 collar corrected and pictured left), Burton Albion (1994-95 added), Manchester City (1962-63 added, 1960-61 socks changed), Scarborough (1996-97 shirt detailing amended), Notts County (1888-89 added, 1926-34 socks amended), Barrow (1934-35, 1937-38 cuffs corrected), Accrington Stanley (2005-06, 2006-07, 2009-10 detailing amended), Blackpool (August 1983, March 1984, 1985-86, 1988-89 added, 1989-90, 1991-93, amended), Brighton (1987-88, 1988-89 missing sock detail added), Doncaster Rovers (1937-38, late 1952-53, 1970- January 1971, Jan 1971-1972, late 1983-84 added and several dates amended).

Nike's new kits for Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, USA, Serbia and Slovenia have been added to the FIFA World Cup 2010 section along with links to on-line stores where replicas are available.

27 April: Forfar Athletic (1980-81 added), Yeovil Casuals (1905-06 added), MK Dons (2006-07 short detailing added, 2008-10 sock details amended), Lincoln City (1999-2000, 2004-05 detailing corrected), Exeter City (1999-2000, 2000-01 detailing amended), Morecambe (2005-06 sock detailing amended), Burton Albion (2001-02 added), Macclesfield Town (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-03, 2003-05 detailing amended), Portsmouth (1905-06 added).

aldershot fc 1960-61 team group25 April: This photograph of Aldershot taken in 1960-61 illustrates nicely the difficulty of interpreting old black and white photographs. Although the shirts appear to be a uniform colour, they are in fact red and blue, but the tones are identical when rendered in monochrome. Some contrast can, however, be discerned on the socks, possibly because these were made from nylon rather than cotton or wool and took up dyes slightly differently. Aldershot (1960-61, 1984-85, 1989-91 detailing corrected).

Dagenham & Redbridge (2000-01, 2003-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 detailing corrected), Cheltenham Town (1997-98 sponsor amended, 2000-02 cuffs corrected), Rochdale (1980-81 shirt trim corrected), Crewe Alexandra (1980-81 added).

carlisle united 1934-35 team group23 April: Carlisle United (1934-35 added - pictured left), Grimsby Town (1967-68 added, 1963-66, 1971-73 corrected), Clyde (1959-60 added), Berwick Rangers (1979-80 sponsorship amended), Dundee (crew neck shirt now confirmed for Aug-Sept 1962), Arsenal (1985-86 crest amended), Heart of Midlothian (1985-86 sock detailing corrected, 1986-87 detailing amended), Swansea Town (1960-62 cuffs corrected), Wrexham (1878 knickers now correct), Everton (1960-61 change strip added), Portsmouth (1947-53 collar redrawn, 1962-63 added), Workington (1974-75 more accurate crest), Sunderland (1947-48 added).

2009-10 updates: Southend United (latest Charity Strip added), Peterborough United (away and third kits with charities added), Sheffield United (charity kit added).

St Johnstone's 1996-97 away strip now appears in our Iconic Away Kits section.

In view of Keith Ellis' considerable and continuing contribution, he has been made an HFK Research Associate.

ireland shirt circa 191918 April: The shirt shown here on the right was worn by Patsy Gallagher who played for Ireland between 1919 and 1927. The crest clearly indicates that it is his international jersey and proves that the shade of blue was considerably deeper than we previously thought. The evidence for the team wearing pale blue in the 19th century is fairly strong but we have not been able to establish when the darker blue was adopted so we have provisionally dated the change to 1919. Thanks to Jonny Dewart for this information. While we are on the topic, you may like to visit Linden Mack's site where his magnificent collection of match-worn Northern Ireland shirts can be viewed.

Having failed to secure shirt sponsorship for the second season in a row, West Bromwich Albion have instead offered short term deals. Full details are now available in the current Championship section.

oldham athletic 1907-08 team groupPuma's attractive African Unity third strips have been added to the FIFA World Cup section.

This photograph is of Oldham Athletic from 1907-08 and suggests that for this season at least, the team wore plain jerseys, marking a transition from their old red and white striped shirts worn up until 1906-07 and the broad blue and white stripes that we are first recorded in 1911. While we cannot be certain, the jerseys appear to be a lightish shade of mid-blue.

hull city 1963-64 team group17 April: This photograph of Hull City, uncovered by Keith Ellis, solves a long standing riddle. We have photographic evidence that the kit was worn at Gateshead in the 1965-66 FA Cup even though it is well documented that the Tigers wore plain amber shirts that season. This photograph places the strip in 1963-64 but leaves open the question of why it was worn two years later for just one game. I suspect the reason is that the match was televised and the stripes were needed so that viewers could tell the teams apart on their old 405-line black and white TV sets.

Historical Updates: Arsenal (2004-05 missing sleeve detail added), Wigan Borough (1923-24 missing sock detail added), Wigan Athletic (1952-53, 1957-58, 1974-75 added), West Ham United (1950-51, 1953-55 crests corrected and some alterations made to dating 1955-1960), Walsall (1939-50 socks corrected), Stockport County (1985-86 added, 1982-84, 1984-85, 1987-88 amended).

Chivas USA (new sponsor added to shirts).

s stanimirov16 April: HFK receives many requests for help but perhaps none quite so interesting or eccentric as a recent e-mail from Dr Stefan Stanimirov, who practices at the Medical University of Pleven in northern Bulgaria. Dr Stanimirov enlivens his ward rounds by wearing medical uniforms that he makes himself, based on famous football shirts. Among his collection are the 1970s Aston Villa shirt shown here and replica Leeds United and Levski Spartak/Spartak Pleven tops. With HFK's help, the splendid Dr Stanimirov plans to add classic tops from Liverpool, Spurs and Scotland to his collection.

If you watched Portsmouth's astounding victory in last Sunday's FA Cup Semi-Final, you would have noticed that the team wore a strip provided by Kappa rather than their regular supplier, Canterbury. A club spokesman has told HFK that the change was the result of the New Zealand firm being unable to comply fully with the terms of their contract (Canterbury went into administration last year) so the club decided to introduce a new strip for this match provided by their new kit partner, who will take over the contract next season. The semi-final strip has been added to the current Premier League section.

Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers, and Darlington have unveiled their 2010-11 strips.

Historical updates: Everton (1962-63 added), Queen's Park Rangers (1960-61 added), Newcastle United 1960-63 collar details altered), West Bromwich Albion (1963-64 added), Nottingham Forest (1957-58 added), Exeter City (1966-68, 1968-72 corrected), Notts County (1993-94 socks corrected).

11 April: Leicester City (1961-62 added), Barnsley (1968-71 shorts detailing added, 1975-76 collar corrected), Burnley (late 1892-93, 1934-35, 1935-36 collar details amended), Sheffield United (1948-49 added, 1954-55 & 1955-60 now have appropriate outsize socks, 1967-68 detailing added), Sheffield Wednesday (stockings amended 1955-1964), Carlisle United (1993-95 correct crest applied), Swindon Town (1898-99 added), Stoke City (1966-68 added).

10 April: New strips for 2010-11 have started to come in: Norwich City, Liverpool have been posted today.

charles sladeThis interesting photograph is of Charles Slade who played for Huddersfield Town between 1914 and 1922. A second image of Sidney James, who played for the club 1913-15 shows the same, distinctive jersey with very broad stripes. I believe that this design was probably adopted in 1915 and worn in war time competition. This further suggests that the familar striped shirts were first worn immediately after the Great War.

Wolves (1962-63 variant added, 1985-86 unsponsored kit added).

 

4 April: Chile (1st), Paraguay (1st & 2nd) and Switzerland (2nd) have been added to the FIFA World Cup 2010 section.

southampton st mary's 1888 team groupI have been reviewing the history of Southampton's strips and concluded that the crest that appears on many early team photographs is in fact the badge of the Hampshire FA and not that of the club. Regular HFK visitors will know that in the 1880s and 1890s, players picked for their county or national representative teams would often have the badges from these games stitched onto their club shirts. The photograph on the left comes from Chalk & Holley's excellent Saints: A Complete History of Southampton FC 1885-1987 and is the first known photograph of the team, then known as Southampton St Mary's YMA. It is interesting to note that some players have the sash sewn into their shirts running from left to right while others have it going from right to left, which is typical of the lack of standardisation in this period, when players provided their own shirts. Rumour has it that the club will wear shirts based on this design in 2010-11, their 125th anniversary.

The Hartlepool United section has been reviewed with reference to the official centenary history pulished last year. The crests have been revised, detailing added and several missing kits added (1922-23, 1924-26, 1926-27, 1963-65, 1973-74, 1982-83 added).

liverpool fc 1964-65 with Football League trophy30 March: The photographs presented today illustrate a question raised recently by Keith Ellis about when Liverpool adopted their iconic all-red kit. Both were taken in the 1964-65 season. The first shows the team, wearing white shorts and socks, with the Football League trophy they won in 1964. Photographic evidence indicates that they wore this kit in league games during 1964-65.

The second photograph, (courtesy of the Liverpool Echo on the right), was taken shortly before the FA Cup final with Leeds United that same season. It is not the kit worn in the cup final itself, which had the club crest reversed out, white on red. This confusion had led us to think that the team adopted all-red at the begining of the 1964-65 season but we have been able to liverpool 1964-65 all-red stripestablish, with help from Paul Rodgers, content manager for the Liverpool FC website, that this is not the case.

We now know that Bill Shankly sent his team out to play RSC Anderlecht in their second round European Cup match in all-red for the first time in 1964. Liverpool won the tie and continued to wear all-red in European matches and in the FA Cup for the rest of the season. The following season, Liverpool wore all-red in the Football League and have continued to do so ever since.

With additional input from Dave Atkinson, we have added the strips worn in the four European Cup finals Liverpool won between 1977 and 1984 to the Liverpool Away Kits section as well as adding a history of the club's crest to the Home Section.

Now here is a killer trivia question: When did Newcastle United play in red and white stripes and Sunderland in black and white stripes on the same day? The answer lurks in the excellent Saints: A Complete Record of Southampton FC 1885-1987 by Gary Chalk and Duncan Holley. On 27 January 1951 Southampton were drawn to play Sunderland at Roker Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The rules of the competition required both sides change in the event of a colour clash but both team's alternate kits also clashed. The Saints borrowed a set of amber shirts from the Hampshire Regiment while Sunderland swapped their usual red and white shirts with a set from their Tyneside neighbours. As a result Newcastle turned out that day against Bolton Wanderers in their arch-rivals' shirts.

aston villa 1935After studying the photographic evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the variations depicted of Aston Villa's distinctive double banded collars worn between 1924 and 1956 are deceptive and that the design was consistent throughout the period. The confusion arises because these collars were so big and (being made of wool) subject to being stretched out of shape so they rarely appear the same from one photograph to the next.

Other updates: Notts County (1923-26 amended), Nottingham Forest (1904-06 kits consolidated, 1906-07 added), Swindon Town (1906-07 added), Blackpool (1968-69 monogramme added to shirt), Preston North End (issue with collars and socks resolved), Oldham Athletic (1911 added - this has a peculiar collar), Derby County (1919-1924 kits consolidated with new information about dates), Everton (1945-46 added, collar details on 1907-08, 1909-11 amended, 1930-31 change kit added), Hartlepools United (1966-67 added), Leyton Orient (1964-65 early season added, 1953-54 collar detailing corrected, 1961-62 cuff details amended), Chelsea (1961-62 collar and cuff detailing corrected), Everton (1958-61 change kit amended).

wigan borough team group 1923-2429 March: The featured photograph today, found by Keith Ellis, is of Wigan Borough in the 1923-24 season. Borough generally played in amber and black but we have evidence that they wore red and white when this picture was taken. Borough had an undistinguished career in the old Third Division (North), perpetually struggling to attract support in competition with the town's successful rugby league side. As their debts mounted, players went unpaid and in 1931 the club resigned from the Football League and went out of business.

Other updates: Barnsley (1962 added), Sheffield United (1913-15 corrected), Leicester City (1968-70 badge corrected), Swindon Town (1919-20, 1920-21 added), Chelsea (1950s change kit added), Sheffield Wednesday (sock hoops amended 1935-36, 1936-1939), Stoke City (1937-39, 1945 added), West Ham United (1957-58 added), Bristol City (1954-55 now has correct short sleeves).

28 March: Yesterday was "First Kick" day in North America, the opening of the new Major League Soccer season. To mark the occasion we have posted a new MLS 2010 section. Replica's of the new shirts do not appear to be available in Europe but you can order them direct from our US affiliate partner using the links on the gallery.

24 March: Kidderminster Harriers (1967-68 added), Barnsley (1906-07 added and two missing crests are now included in the narrative section), Middlesbrough (1958-59, 1959-60 added), Hereford United (1994-96 sock detail added), York City (the team have been wearing red shorts and socks since December 2009), Notts County (1935-36, 1947-48, 1963-64 added), Wolves (1893 FA Cup Final strip drawn more accurately).

huddersfield town 191423 March: Here is a little gem discovered by Keith Ellis, of Huddersfield Town wearing the white strip with light blue shoulders first adopted in 1910. Because of the excellent quality of the print we can clearly make out that the collar and sock turnover details are different to the earlier version of this strip. This information takes this oufit up until the abandonment of the Football League for the duration of the Great War. It is unclear if the club continued to play during wartime (but given the state of their finances it seems unlikely they carried on) so it is possible they switched to the more familiar stripes in 1919, with the resumption of Football League competition. Two months into the new season, Huddersfield's chairman, J Hilton Crowther made an unsuccessful attempt to merge the club with the newly formed Leeds United. When the dust settled, Huddersfield survived and Crowther took over as chairman at Elland Road, where he introduced a playing strip identical to Huddersfield's.

Other updates Scunthorpe United (1949-50 added), Rotherham United (1994-95 added), Newport County (1952-newport county 195256 collar detailing amended - see photograph left), Luton Town (1909-10 graphic restored), Gillingham (1975-76 detailing added), Grimsby Town (1973-74 amended), West Bromwich Albion (1947-48 added), Newcastle United (1964-65 two versions added, 1972-75 socks amended, 1957-61 change kit modified), Sunderland (1922-23 added), Bolton Wanderers (1934-35 badge removed), Mansfield Town (1935-36 added), Preston North End (1948-49 added), Crewe Alexandra (1958-59 crest added).

22 March: Having consulted with Frank Grande, the official club historian of Northampton Town, I have made some adjustments to the Cobblers' section. The 1909-10 graphic now has black knickers rather than claret, which is consistent with my own observations about the colours available at the time and the 1930-31 strip has been removed, as it is now confirmed that it was a blue and white change strip. Frank has also shed light on the bewildering switches between the old hooped shirts and the new plain ones that occurred in the seasons immediately after the Second World War.

Port Vale (1989-90, 1990-91 collar amended), Bradford Park Avenue (1931-35 shorts corrected), Yeovil Town (1970-71 socks corrected), Wrexham (1956-61 V necks drawn more accurately), Leeds City (1911-13 restored).

derby county 189521 March: This picture of Derby County taken in 1895 is of interest because it puts their adoption of plain white shirts back one season, to 1895-96. Previously they had worn various combinations of black, white and cardinal red: (1956-57, 1961-62 also added, 1965-66 amended), Brighton (1908-09 added), Lincoln City (1968-69 added), Luton Town (1905-10 neckline amended), Doncaster Rovers (1934-35 added).

20 March: Thanks to Keith Ellis, Tony Sealey and Andy Porter, the official club historian, I have updated the Tottenham Hotspur section. The Home Kits gallery now includes a comprehensive history of the club crest and kits between 1921 and 1951 have been enhanced with the original version of the cockerel badge. The Away Kits section has a number of kits that appeared for just one or two games added.

19 March: Southend United (1919-20 added, 1925-26 socks confirmed), Bury (1973-74 added), Cardiff City (1954-55 added), Preston North End (1950-51 added), Reading (1942-44 socks corrected), Chester (1958-59 stripes drawn more accurately),

Peterborough United are now wearing the Sue Ryder Charity logotype on their home shirts.

jack reynolds 189218 March: Chelsea (1924-25 added, 1974-75 fourth strip amended, 1998-2000 crest and trademark repositioned), Ipswich Town (1952-53 added), Burnley (1910-15 neckline corrected), Stoke City (1949 added), Derby County (1913, 1945-46 added), Sheffield Wednesday (1962-63 added, 1948-49 corrected), Liverpool (1955-56 added), Tranmere Rovers (1937-39 collar detailing amended), Blackburn Rovers (1937-38 added), Birmingham City (1955-56 socks now correct), Millwall (1936-39 cuffs corrected), Southampton (1903-20 detailing added), Watford (1947 added), Boston United (1947 added).

The player on the left is Jack Reynolds, pictured in 1892. Reynolds won five caps for Ireland before it emerged that he was in fact English. Since qualification rules were rather lax in those days, he went on to play for England eight times and is the only player to have scored both for and against the English national team (barring own goals). One of the highest-paid players of his generation he led a colourful life but died in poverty in 1917 at the age of 45.

barnsley fc circa 189217 March: With input from David Wood, we have clarified the timeline for Barnsley's earliest kits. David believes the photograph posted on 15 March was taken in 1887, the year the club was formed, which suggests that references to the team playing in navy blue and maroon are incorrect. The photograph on the left from copacabarnsley shows the Barnsley team circa 1892 although I suspect it dates from a little earlier (Update: David has confirmed it was taken in 1890-91). If you compare the unusual striped tops in this image with the one that appears in the earlier photograph below, you will notice they are identical, a puzzle that I have not been able to solve so far.

A photograph provided by Keith Ellis indicates that the St Patrick's blue worn by the Irish national team until 1922 (and subsequently as Northern Ireland until 1930) was considerably lighter than the shade we had depicted. The 1919 strip worn by Wales has also been added to our International Section.

Historical Updates: Newcastle United 1920-21, West Bromwich Albion (1895-96 stripes more accurately drawn), Crystal Palace (1959-60 added), Sunderland (1923-24, 1924-26 added).

barnsley st peters team group 15 March: We are posting this photograph of Barnsley St Peters from 1889 once again because the club historian, David Wood has been in touch. David explains that the embroidery evident on some players' jerseys is not the club's initials, but numbers. This is almost certainly the first example of players wearing numbers corresponding to their position in the history of the game.

Galeria dos Uniformes da Seleção Brasileira has a complete archive of Brazilian national team colours with photographs and colour graphics.

Birmingham City (1949-55, 1955-56 cuffs corrected), West Ham United (1905, 1909-19, 1923, 1959-60 added), Fulham (several dates between 1920 and 1956 amended), Kidderminster Harriers (1986-87, 1996-97 added).

The all-red version of England's new change kit has been added.

rochdale1953-54 team group14 March: Southampton (1896-1902 detailing amended), The Wednesday (1900-04 detailing amended), Rochdale (1953-54 added and pictured left, 1962-63 badge corrected), Motherwell (1959-60 added), Kilmarnock (1962-63, 1963-64 added), Grimsby Town (1906-08 shorts corrected, 1933-34, 1936-37, 1957-59 detailing amended), Middlesbrough (1946-47 added), Colchester United (1960-61 added), Wolves (1928), Charlton Athletic (1931-32 added), Gillingham (1965-66 added), Aston Villa (one-off change kits from the 1934 and 1953 FA Cups added), Newport County (bands added to sleeves of 1938-45 kits, manufacturer's logo added to Jan-May '89).

13 March: As expected, Chester FC were wound up in the High Court on Wednesday, an ignominious ending to a proud 125-year history. The way is now open for supporters to follow the example of Accrington Stanley and Aldershot Town and form a "phoenix club." The local authority, which owns the Deva Stadium, has indicated that it is committed to retaining professional football in the city so the prospects of a new club making its home there are excellent. Cardiff City and Southend United were also in court but were granted an extension of 56 days to secure the funds they need to pay off their debts. For more coverage visit the BBC Sport Website.

Historical Updates: Chelsea (1914-15, 1945 added, stocking and neckline detailing corrected on 1905-14, 1918-29), Manchester City (evidence found by Keith Ellis that hooped socks were worn in 1950, a year earlier than previously thought).

10 March: Contributions to our new World Cup 2010 section are rolling in: Denmark (2nd), Switzerland (1st), Slovakia (1st), Honduras (1st & 2nd) have been added.

fergus suterI am continuing to work through Keith Ellis' epic contribution, which has included a good deal of material that helps pin down the confusing period in Blackburn Rovers' history, when blue appeared on both the right and left side of players' shirts. (1910-11 added today). The skinny chap featured here is perhaps the most influential player ever to have played for the Rovers, Fergie Suter. A stonemason from Glasgow, Suter was poached by Darwen from Partick Thistle in 1879 and was later induced to play for Rovers. Unable to pursue his trade in Lancashire because the local stone was unworkable, he nevertheless made a good living from illicit payments made by the club. Suter is now recognised as the first professional footballer.

Stirling Albion (2006-07 shorts corrected), Everton (1895-1901 collar fastening amended), Millwall (1895-96 collar fastening amended), Wolves (1899-1900 added), Portsmouth (1905 added), Liverpool (1905-07 amended - this we now know was a ribbed woolen jersey with a laced polo neck), Leeds City (1905-08 collar detailing amended and shade of old gold revised throughout), Hull City (1904-09 collar detailing corrected), Derby County (1909-10 collar detailing amended - the photographic evidence submitted by Keith Ellis for this, which we unfortunately cannot publish due to copyright restrictions, appears to corroborate Derby wearing black and white striped jerseys that season), Leicester Fosse (1910 added), Third Lanark (1910 added), Northampton Town (1899-1904, 1910-13 collar detailing amended), Preston North End (1884 collar detailing amended).

You can read an interview with your truly on footballshirts.co.uk.

maidstone united 1921-229 March: Burnley (1934-35 socks corrected), Nottingham Forest (1907, 1947-48 added), Rochdale (2009-10 third kit added), Maidstone United (1965-66 added, 1975-78 corrected).

The photograph shows the Stones' team from 1921-22.

8 March: Sunderland (1886-1900 shirts more accurately drawn), QPR (1904-24 graphics now show the correct number of hoops), Hull City (1940 added), Blackburn Rovers (1905-06, 1923-24, 1928-29 added, several dates amended), Woolwich Arsenal (1904 added), Wimbledon (1923-31 dates amended), Huddersfield Town (1920-21, 1922, 1923-24, 1954-55, 1964 added, 1910-11 neck detailing corrected, 1925-26 socks corrected), Halifax Town (1971-72 added), York City (1958-66 dates amended), Hartlepools United (1964-1968 dates amended), Derby County (1923-24, 1926-27 added), West Bromwich Albion (1930-31 added), Middlesbrough (1947-48 added), Accrington (1880-81 added), Barnsley (1928-29, 1960-61 added), Birmingham (1932-33, 1933-34 added), Southend United (1926 added), Crystal Palace (1937-38 stripes now more accurate), Leicester City (1924-25 added). Thanks are due to HFK stalwarts Simon Monks and Keith Ellis for today's contribution.

fifa world cup 20107 March: New feature - today we are pleased to open our World Cup 2010 section. This is being posted as a work in progress and we call on our regular visitors to let us know as new strips are unveiled. Please note that we will only publish strips that we can confirm from official sources. There are far too many hoax images floating about. The World Cup is now a showcase for the best in design and there are some outstanding new strips on show. For your convenience and shopping pleasure, links are provided so you can purchase any replicas currently available.

Please remember that by purchasing replica shirts through our own links, you are supporting our website because we take a modest commission on each transaction at no additional cost to you.

leeds city 1910-11 team groupWe congratulate Dave Tomlinson who has uncovered photographic evidence and a contemporary press report that conclusively proves that Leeds City switched from their usual old gold and navy to green shirts in the 1910-11 season, in order to make their five new Irish signings feel at home. The club even introduced green flags at the half way line. Although the team photograph supplied (see left) is of poor quality, we can clearly see that the first team (on the right) are wearing the new green shirts while the reserves (on the left) are in the striped shirts worn the previous season.

Ironically, the Irish national side played in blue shirts at this time due to Unionist domination of the Irish Football Association. Green was the colour of Irish nationalism. History does not record which community the Irishmen recruited by Leeds came from but we can imagine that if they were Ulster protestants, the club's gesture would not have been entirely welcome.

3 March: The special edition kits worn in the Edinburgh derby on 3 January have been added to the SPL 2009-10 section.

2 March: Scotland's new home strip has been added.

I am very grateful indeed to Jeff Whitehead, Colchester United historian, who has provided details of every strip the team has worn since their formation in 1937 as well as missing crests. The U's section has, therefore, been thoroughly reviewed and updated.

aston villa 1935-36 team group28 February: Aston Villa are perhaps unique in that they persisted in wearing heavy woollen jerseys right up until they adopted the new "continental" cotton shirts in 1956. Although it is not evident in team photographs, close ups reveal that these jerseys were vertically ribbed and I have attempted to represent this in the graphics between 1894 and 1956. The photograph (left) shows the 1935-36 team wearing the very distinctive yoked collars worn between 1924 and 1956, which were unique to the club. The oversized collars were sometimes folded over as shown in our new 1947 change strip graphic.

There is a thoughtful article written by Simon Kupar in today's Observer regarding the debt-ridden state of professional football. He describes football clubs as "small businesses that spend like big ones, (that's why) they keep getting into trouble."

Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (1960-61 added, 1956-57 cuff trim corrected), Barnet (1957-58, 1963-64 added), Swansea Town (1967-68 added, 1956-58 dates amended), Carlisle United (1969-70 crest added, 1964-66 dates amended), Burnley (March 1935 added), Sheffield Wednesday (1935-36 added).

27 February: The main story in the sports media today concerns Portsmouth, who became the first Premier League club to enter administration yesterday. While the survival of this famous club is by no means guaranteed, the prospects of a buyer being found are probably improved. The same cannot be said for Chester City who were yesterday expelled from the Blue Square Premier League. Over 75% of the members voted to kick the club out after the management admitted to breaching five competition rules. Although the club has the right to appeal, it seems unlikely that they will bother - the club was not represented at the meeting and the supporters umbrella group, City Fans United has been calling for the club to be wound up. With no fixtures for the rest of the season it seems doubtful that City will survive long enough for the winding up petition hearing in the High Court on 10 March.

bolton wanderers 1912-13 team group26 February: I have been re-examining the Bolton Wanderers section in the light of several pieces of photographic evidence. First of all various written sources give the club's colours in 1912-13 as red shirts and white knickers. This photograph, however, shows conclusively that this is incorrect and the team wore white shirts with a narrow navy buttoned crew neck and cuffs. Furthermore, we have been able to establish that these shirts were also worn in 1911-12.

The second issue concerns references to Wanderers wearing black knickers with black and red socks sometime after the Second World War, which we have struggled to verify. Earlier information (from match programmes) that this was worn in 1952-53 is not borne out by the photographs we have seen but thanks to Keith Ellis, we now have solid evidence that places this outfit in 1949-50.

middlesbrough fc team group 1922More from Keith's mountainous submission: Newcastle United (1894-97 revised, collar details on 1904-07, 1907-14 shirts captured, 1965-66 change added), Arsenal (1935-43, 1962-64 dates amended), Darlington (1950-51 added), Sheffield United (1892-1904 stripes now more accurate), Bradford City (1912-13 added, 1928-29 collars corrected, 1960-62 socks corrected), Carlisle United (1955 added), Oldham Athletic (1951-54 socks amended).

Among my favourite kits of all time are the "epaulette" shirts worn by Middlesbrough in the Twenties and early Thirties. Several different versions appeared - the example pictured on the left is from 1922. The idea was revived in 1964 and, in my view, is well overdue for another revival. (The 1905, 1955-56, 1962-63 Boro kits have been added.)

burnley 1922-23 team group25 February: Plymouth Argyle (1948-49 alternate, 1963-64 added, 1955-56 corrected), Reading (1910-11, 1911-12 added), Port Vale (1948-50, 1952-54, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1962-63, 1965-66 added), Burnley (1892-93 alternate kit, 1922-23, 1923-24 added). The photograph is of the 1922-23 Burnley side wearing an unusual yoked jersey. A similar design was worn in season 1925-26 but with a laced crew neck.

23 February: Todays updates all come from Keith Ellis once more. West Bromwich Albion (1947-56 detailing amended), Swansea Town (1958 added), Newcastle United (1923-27 dates amended), Tottenham Hotspur (1923-24 added, dates 1919-1923 revised), Huddersfield Town (1963 added, 1952-55 detailing improved), Barnsley (1938-39 collar detailing amended.)

aston villa 1952-5322 February: In the Forties and early Fifties socks were seriously big but perhaps none were bigger than those worn by Aston Villa shown here in 1952-53 (1943, 1958-59 added).

Liverpool (1946-47 socks corrected), Bristol Rovers (1956-57), Blackburn Rovers (1919-20, 1934-35 added, 1957-59, 1959-64 cuff details amended), Hibernian (1945-57 collar corrected), Bristol City (1965-66 added), Stockport County (January 1958 collar details amended), Manchester City (1954-55, 1955-56, 1958-59 stocking details amended), Blackpool's kits from 1927-28 and 1955-63 are now presented in the correct sequence, Tottenham Hotspur (1955-56 added).

bolton wanderers 1932-33 team group21 February: Lots more from Keith Ellis today - Bolton Wanderers (1932-33 added - pictured left. The photograph illustrates the typical laced crew neck tops of the period; players habitually removed the laces. It is also noteworthy that the club crest, worn throughout the Twenties and second half of the Thirties, is absent. The contrast between Wanderers' navy knickers and black socks shows up well).

Huddersfield Town (1937-38 added, dates confirmed for 1927-36), Portsmouth (1956-57, 1957-58 added), Southampton St Mary's (1895-96 added), West Bromwich Albion (1919-25 dates amended), Blackburn Rovers (January 1923, 1924-25 added), Charlton Athletic (1921-22 added), Wigan Athletic (1954-55 socks and collars amended), Preston North End (1956-57 socks corrected and several dates amended between 1922 and 1936), Carlisle United (1950-51, 1959-60, 1963-64 added), Norwich City (1938-39 added), Peterborough United (1970-72 dates amended).

leicerster fosse 1907-08 team groupThe written evidence I have seen indicates that Leicester Fosse wore navy tops 1904-11 but this picture (left), uncovered by Keith, shows conclusively that for the 1907-08 season at least, they wore mid-blue jerseys. The socks are also noteworthy for the unusual trim for the period. Leicester Fosse/City (1907-08, 1935-36 added).

Chelsea (1949-50 added), QPR (1946-47 added), Notts County (1961-62 added), Swindon Town (1905-06, 1910-11, 1959-60 added, 1923-24 socks corrected), Stoke City (1952-53, 1958-59 added), Walsall (1958-59 added).

Even more from Keith to come...

Andy Porter, Tottenham Hotspur's historian, has uncovered a contemporary club handbook that confirms the team wore navy knickerbockers with their dark chocolate and old gold shirts, 1896-98. The same document also provides evidence that Swindon Town wore navy rather than white knickerbockers 1897-99.

barnsley st peters19 February: This intriguing and famous photograph of Barnsley St Peter's shows players wearing three different tops. According to the bbc.co.uk website, the club's original colours were navy and maroon stripes. This team picture is thought to date from 1889-90 and suggests that the team were wearing a much lighter shade than navy at this time. The seated player in stripes may be wearing the chocolate and white shirt that would be adopted in 1890 or perhaps an older one, which would cast doubt on the BBC's account. Careful examination reveals that two players have "BFC" (or possibly BStP) sewn onto their jerseys.

Sheffield United (1906-12 collar detailing added), Halifax Town (1957-59, 1965-66, 1966-67 added, 1960-62 dates amended), Tottenham Hotspur (1957 change strip added, badge on 1970-71 change strip corrected). We have Keith Ellis to thank these contributions as well as many others recently posted. Keith has got the bit between his teeth and has been researching material to fill in some of the gaps in our club sections.

Aston Villa (1998-99, 2004-05 change kit socks amended).

18 February: Sunderland (1958-59 added), Barnsley (1954-55 added).

16 February: The Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, has stepped into the debate we highlighted in our last post, calling on the FA to take a tougher stance against the abuses that have led to spiralling debt in the professional darlington fc team group 1910-11game. "We have challenged the FA, Premier League and the Football League on financial regulation over the last year and they have made some welcome rule changes," Sutcliffe told the Guardian, "but there remain tough questions for the football authorities on what more they need to do to tackle the issues around leveraged debt, takeovers and strengthening the financial governance of football clubs." For the full story visit The Guardian Online.

Darlington (1910-11 added - pictured left). More accurate crests have been added to the Colchester United graphics between 1983 and 2004. Aston Villa (1938 change strip added), Queen's Park (1981-82 added), Dumbarton (1978-1983 dates amended), Ross County (1984-87, 1990-92 added), Rangers (1994-95, 1997-98 away strip socks corrected).

The new England red "away" and The Republic of Ireland's new "home" strips have been added.

high court13 February: The failure of the football authorities to take action over financial mismanagement at professional clubs has led to a hardening of attitudes at HM Revenue & Customs this season, who are using the January transfer window, when clubs generate new funds from transfers, to force the issue. Portsmouth, Cardiff City and Notts County all face winding up petitions this month while Crystal Palace and Southend United have gone into administration. Accrington Stanley were forced into a change of ownership in the autumn and non-league Kings Lynn have been closed down.

Chester City have again fallen foul of the authorities because of gross mismangement and the City Fans United supporters have called for the club, currently suspended from the Blue Square National Conference, to be closed down.

Football clubs seem to believe that paying tax is optional rather than a legal obligation, blithely paying players tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds every week and not settling their tax bills. No-one likes paying tax but most of us accept that our schools, hospitals, police and armed services have to funded somehow. Why should football clubs be exempt?

Under FA rules, once a club enters administration, football debtors (clubs owed transfer fees, directors and players owed back wages and bonuses) are paid in full while non-football debtors (HMRC, Police Authorites and the myriad small businesses that supply goods and services to clubs) share what's left: if they receive 10p in the pound they are fortunate. Obviously when HMRC force a club into administration most of the tax owed, often millions of pounds, has to be written off but officials have no other sanction to force them to meet their obligations.

It is a scandal that directors who abuse their position are allowed to walk away, having usually extracted large sums of money from the clubs they have mismanaged, leaving the club in ruins and cheating the taxpayer, charities such as St John's Ambulance Brigade and local businesses of the revenue they are owed.

plymouth argyle 1960s team group11 February: The excellent Marina Hyde has written a deliciously acerbic article about the new "England Away" shirt, ludicrously launched by Kasabian in Paris this week. Visit The Guardian Online for the full text.

Partick Thistle (2002-02 shorts amended), Luton Town (badge 1973-87 amended), Sunderland (1965 added), Plymouth Argyle (2000-01, 2007-09, 2009-10 details amended). The featured photograph is of Argyle in the kit they wore in the Sixties, for my money, one of the best outfits of all time.

10 February: Queen's Park Rangers (1987-88 added), Dumbarton (1987-88 detail added to sponsor's logotype), Arbroath (1992-94, 1994-95 makers' trademarks added, 1994-95 change kit added to Iconic Away Kits section), Raith Rovers (1995-97, 1997-98 correct makers' logos added), Scotland (1976-79 away kit corrected), Celtic's kit worn at Elland Road in the 1970 European Cup semi-final has been added. Coventry City's new limited edition third strip has been added. Umbro logo added to Rangers 1976-78 kit.

My thanks go to Richard Young for kindly providing artwork for the crests of Scunthorpe United, so I've updated the Irons' section out of sequence. (Similar contributions for lower divsions clubs in England and scotland will be much appreciated.)

Southampton FC historian, David Juson has informed us that the club wore navy shorts until 1950.

Scotland have signed up with Adidas, who will become their kit supplier until 2014.

colchester town 1913 team group6 February: Dredging the electric interweb for details of old club crests is turning up some choice pearls. For example, several previously unrecorded strips have been added to our Colchester United section thanks to the expanded historical section on the Colchester United website. Frustratingly, the images posted there are without captions so I have had to estimate dates and I am still searching for details of the crests worn by the team between 1972 and 1994. On the other hand, the official site now includes a history of Colchester Town, the club that folded when United were formed in 1937. This photograph, borrowed from the official club website shows Colchester Town in 1913 wearing extraordinary shirts of myrtle green, dark claret and white. I've added a graphic to our Strange Hues section.

blackpool fc 18813 February: In the course of researching his new history of Blackpool FC, On This Day (Pitch Publishing Ltd: Nov 2009 ISBN 1905411502) HFK Research Associate Peter Gillatt has uncovered a wealth of historic photographs and detail, which he has kindly shared with us. He has also posted some of these images on the Blackpool On This Day Website, from which this intriguing team group is taken, captioned "Blackpool FC 1881." The modern day Blackpool was not formed until 1887 so this must be a picture of one of the earlier teams that played in the town and folded before the modern club was formed.

Falkirk's third strip, used at Ibrox recently, has been added.

While researching club crests, I have learned that the badge worn by Burnley FC between 1887 and 1895 was the royal coat of arms rather than the Prince of Wales' three feathers crest as I had previously thought. The right to wear this crest was given to the club following a visit to Turf Moor by Prince Edward and it was worn in the 1914 FA Cup final. As far as I know, Burnley are the only football club to have been permitted to wear a royal crest.

yeovil casuals 1904-05 team group29 January: Thanks to Simon Monks we have been able to establish that Yeovil Town, switched from their usual plain green shirts to ones with white sleeves especially for their FA Cup fourth round tie with Sunderland in 1949. The Cidermen's victory over the First Division side remains one of the greatest giant-killing feats in the history of the cup (Yeovil were then still a non-league side). Yeovil retained these shirts for the next decade but we can now reveal that the Yeovil Casuals team (from whom the modern team is descended) wore very similar shirts in 1904-05 (see photograph left).

Other updates: Details missing from Hibernian's current kits have been added, Birmingham City's third kit added, Grimsby Town (1987-89 added). Peter Gillatt, HFK's Research Associate for Blackpool FC has provided details of the crest used between 1987 and 1993 and a missing kit from 1963-64.

28 January: Following on from a suggestion made by Colin Barratt recently, we have started to add images of past and present crests to the narrative section of each club page. To date the Accrington Stanley to Birmingham City sections have been updated and more will be added today.

Further to the item published on 24 January below, Richard Sanders has confirmed that it was the Scottish FA who insisted that JH Forrest wear a differently coloured shirt to the rest of the England team in 1886. The Scottish Football Association was still dominated by the gentlemen-amateurs of Queens' Park FC who objected to playing against a professional. Indeed their hostility to professionalism meant that payments to players remained forbidden in Scotland until 1893. There is no record of just what Forrest wore in this match but I think it quite likely he used his Blackburn Rovers' club shirt.

england team 187624 January: Intriguing evidence has come to hand about the shirts worn by England in the late-Victorian period. In his splendid history of the birth of British football, Beastly Fury, Richard Sanders records that the first acknowledged professional to be chosen for England, JH Forrest, was forced to wear a differently coloured shirt to his amateur gentlemen-players in 1886. Glen Isherwood has also uncovered evidence that the England team may have switched to dark shirts for an unofficial international against a German XI in 1901. Further details are in our England 1872-1939 section.

The photograph is of the England team of 1876, probably the oldest existing image of the team, courtesy of bygonderbyshire.co.uk.

Jyll Skinner recently wrote in asking about the terms "football strip" and "football kit," wondering why "uniform" is not used and whether "strip" might derive from "stripe". The term "Football Kit" refers to the players' entire equipment - shirt, shorts, socks, boots, shin pads and (ahem) jock-strap. ("Historical Football Kits" is something of a misnomer but we wanted to avoid "strip" in the title as we thought this might turn up in search engines in a rather inappropriate way.) "Uniform" is American English and is rarely used in the UK where the term "strip" is preferred. I believe this stems from the use of the verb "to strip" to describe players "stripping" before a game. I do not believe there is any connection with the term "stripe."

Bryan Culshaw has threatened to eat his entire programme collection if we don't change Everton's change shorts from blue to yellow between 1979 and 1982. So we have.

Luton Town's 1974-79 Admiral strip has been added to our Classic Kits section.

wolves v spartak moscow17 January: Graham Warner has pointed out that Wolves wore a special outfit with fluorescent shirts in their pioneering frendlies against European opposition in the 1950s. The photograph is taken from footage of the team wearing these spectacular strips in action against Spartak Moscow on the British Pathe website.

We have confirmed that Yeovil Town adopted their famous green shirts with white sleeves in 1949. Huddersfield Town's new charity strip has been added.

Other updates: Blackpool (1956-57 added), Swindon Town (1913-14 added), QPR (collars on 1905-15 jerseys now correct), Fulham (1913-14 cadet stripes added to socks), Reading (1897-98 kit now confirmed as adopted in 1894), WBA (1913-14 added), Brentford (1905-06 added), Aston Villa (1905-06 added). The Blackburn Rovers kit listed as "circa1915" has been confirmed for 1913-14.

barrow fc 1934-3516 January: Continuing our series on former Football League clubs, this photograph is of Barrow taken in 1934-35 and taken from the informative barrowfc.com website. The point of interest is the V neck shirts worn by the team: this style became almost universal between 1955 and 1962 but was very rare indeed before that. In fact, the only other team we have found wearing V necks in the Thirties is Southport. Barrow were founder members of Third Division (North) in 1921 and lost their place in 1972. They currently play in the Blue Square Premier, just one tier away from recovering their place in the Football league.

ashington fc 191414 January: Featured in today's picture is the Ashington team from 1914 when they won the Northern Football Alliance. The Colliers became founder members of Division Three (North) of the Football League in 1921 but failed re-election eight years later, victims of the miners' strike that caused a collapse in attendances. The club still plays in the Northern League and although the town's last deep pit closed in 1988, it retains strong links to the mining industry. Indeed, the current board is led by Ian Lavery, President of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Having looked again at my notes for Dumbarton, I've tweaked the first few entries. Tony Sealey has provided information that allows us to confirm the dates of Spurs' kits between 1919 and 1926 and add a missing 1970-71 change kit. Thanks to Barry McKenna, the background to Kilmarnock's third strip is now revealed in the current SPL section. Portsmouth (1959-61 added), Cheltenham United (makers' logos added to 1997-98, 1999-2000 graphics).

glossop fc 19069 January: I know that many visitors enjoy the old photographs that we post here from time to time and we have built up quite a nice collection. Here, for example, is the Glossop team from 1906. They joined the Football League in 1898, were promoted to the First Division at the first attempt, only to drop back into the second after one season. In 1915 they were not re-elected and were disbanded shortly afterwards. The club was reformed after the Great War and now plays under it's original name of Glossop North End.

If you have any vintage team photographs from the Victorian or Edwardian era that you would like to share with us, please get in touch.

Chelsea (1992-93 added), Leeds United (1994-95 away kit now in the correct shade of blue).

manchester utd v arsenal january 19267 January: Welcome to our first posting of 2010 and a very happy New Year to everyone. In view of the icy conditions currently affecting the UK, I thought this image of a match between Manchester United and Arsenal from January 1926 might be a good way to kick off, as it were (do you see what I did there?).

Updates: Chesterfield (1945-46 collar amended, 1964-65, 1975-76 added), Everton (1971-72 change kit added), Celtic (1983-84 away kit corrected), Dumbarton (1988-89 restored), Cambridge United (new sponsor's logo added to 2009-10 graphic), the jerseys worn by Old Etonians have been changed to a more accurate shade of Eton Blue in the FA Cup Finalists and Eminent Victorians sections. Southampton (collar on the 1976 FA Cup Final kit amended).

Previous Site Updates in 2009