England Football Kit History: 1872-2022
Feb 28, 2022, by Simon
Yesterday, England's football association announced that they will not play against Russia in international football "for the foreseeable future". Today, we want to take a look at the FA's kit history that is highlighted by some truly unique and remarkable looks.
Obviously, the most famous England shirt is the England 1966 away shirt that was worn in the World Cup final against Germany (4-2). Otherwise, the England Admiral 1980-83 home kit stands out since it incorporates red and blue effortlessly with a colour-block design on the chest, a timeless classic.
Unsurprisingly, England's most experimental shirts were created during the 1990s when Umbro sponsored the FA. One of the biggest anomalies was a grey away shirt during Euro 1996 that was ditched after a loss to Germany in the semi-final.
Another interesting idea by Umbro were the pale blue third shirts during the late 80s and early 1990s. The most memorable one is probably the England 1990 third kit that also featured in the music video for the song "World In Motion" by New Order.
The most unique and intriguing England jersey is the yellow alternative shirt during the 1970s reminiscent of the Brazilian national team. It was only worn three times and ditched immediately after two losses and one draw.
Generally speaking, England's home shirt combines a white base with red and / or blue accents, while the away shirt is traditionally red. However, the current England away jersey is blue. Interestingly, the England 2020-21 away shirt was never worn during Euro 2021.
England Kit History | 1872-2022
via @classicshirts
1872-1954 - In-House & Small Manufacturer
1954-1974 - First Umbro Era & Short Bukta Intermezzo
1974-1984 - Ten Years Under Admiral
1984-2013 - Umbro Returns
2013-? - Nike Takes Over
Regarding the future we can already leak that England will receive four new kits this summer, two for both the men's and women's national team. England's World Cup 2022 home kit will combine a white base with a light and a dark tone of blue, while the away jersey returns to red.
Which is your favorite England football kit of all time? Drop us a line below, and make sure to check out Football Kit Archive for more teams.
QPR Kit Clash Against West Brom
QPR faced a major kit clash in their EFL Championship away game at West Brom, wearing their pink away shirt with blue shorts against West Brom's traditional blue-and-white home shirt.
The bright pink of QPR looked surprisingly similar to the white stripes of West Brom on TV, while the blue shorts and dark details made the overall contrast even less clear.
From the wide camera angle, the two teams became difficult to distinguish, creating a frustrating viewing experience for fans.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'Mambacurial' Releasing Next Week
Nike is set to officially bring back one of its most famous crossover designs, the Kobe 8 Protro "Mambacurial", releasing on September 19, 2026. First introduced in 2013 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant's lifelong passion for football, the sneaker drew direct inspiration from the vibrant 2013 Nike Mercurial Vapor IX football boot. Thirteen years after its original debut, the model returns under the modernized Protro banner, uniting basketball performance with iconic football heritage. Big thanks to House of Heat.
The shoe faithfully recreates the beloved colorway, featuring a bold gradient across the engineered mesh upper in Red Plum, Pink Flash, and Electric Green. Signature football details define the look, including the oversized forefoot Swoosh that mimics Mercurial boot branding, massive block-letter "NIKE" lettering across the medial flank, and a translucent neon green outsole. Modern Protro upgrades have been implemented beneath the surface to provide improved cushioning and traction.
SK Brann Kvinner 26-27 Third Kit Released
Norwegian Toppserien side SK Brann Kvinner have officially unveiled their new 26-27 third kit, produced by Nike in collaboration with Unisport. The team debuted the vibrant new design during their away fixture against Lyn in Oslo.
The Nike SK Brann Kvinner 26-27 third shirt features a purple base paired with a large, dark rhododendron flower graphic printed across the front. The design honors Bergen's reputation as Norway's "Rhododendron City," known for the vibrant bushes that flourish in gardens and parks across the city. All branding, including the Nike Swoosh, monochrome Brann crest, and sponsor logos, is applied in a contrasting bright pink.
On the back, the jersey includes the inscription "For Bergen" in gothic lettering just below the collar, symbolizing the pride of representing the city on away trips. The new third uniform completes Brann Kvinner's 26-27 wardrobe alongside their traditional red home and dark away kits.
Special Club América 26-27 Kit Font Released
Club América has unveiled a special commemorative kit font for the 26-27 season, celebrating Mexican Independence Day and the club's marquee Clásico matches throughout September. The bespoke nameset replaces the regular squad typography on the back of Las Águilas' primary yellow home shirt, adopting the iconic green, white, and red of the Mexican flag.
The custom numbers feature a deep green base detailed with thin white vertical pinstripes. Embedded along the vertical lines are historic commemorative inscriptions, including the club name, the date "16 - 09 - 1810" marking the start of the Mexican War of Independence, and "INDEPENDENCIA DE MÉXICO". The player names above are rendered in vibrant red with a clean white outline.
To complete the patriotic design, each numeral incorporates a geometric red and cream 3D shadow effect, alongside Club América's crest placed at the base of every digit. The special typography delivers a unique cultural tribute, adding extra identity to the squad's jerseys during one of the most important periods of the Mexican football calendar.
