Historical Football Kits

Coca Cola Championship 2007-2008

The second tier of English football was restyled as "The Championship" in 2004 and was originally the Second Division of the Football League (the First Division after the formation of the Premier League in 1994). Many of the 24 member clubs have gone for a traditional look this season although there are a number of innovations. While the big manufacturers are represented, no fewer than 12 companies are represented in the Championship

Barnsley

Designer: Surridge

Sponsor: Wake Smith Solicitors

The Tykes new home kit continues the club's tradition of simple designs based on plain red shirts and white shorts. The away kit, however, features an unusual off-white shirt.

Blackpool

Designer: Carlotti

Sponsor: Floors-2-Go

Carlotti have produced an attractive design for Blackpool based on their new season's template. The away kit is a simple reversal of the home kit. Mid way through the season the club ordered shorts for their change kit in a slightly different design, the original versions being used occasionally with the home shirt when playing in all-tangerine.

Bristol City

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Bristol Trade Centre

Puma's second design for the Robins is a straightforward version of their new template for 2007-08, which is also used for the away kit, rendered in all-black, an increasingly popular choice for alternative strips.

Burnley

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: Holland's Pies

To mark their 125th anniversary, Burnley have adopted a smart all claret shirt with gold piping and new badge: the club have also released a commemorative shirt loosely based on the one worn in 1884. This kit was worn for the first and only time in November 2007 at Turf Moor against Stoke City. At a time when more and more clubs' shirts are sponsored by casinos, estate agents and financial conglomerates, how refreshing it is to see Burnley sponsored by the makers of the noble pork pie.

Cardiff City

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Communications Direct

Cardiff have reintroduced yellow to their kit and reverted to white shorts after several seasons playing in all blue. Their all-black away kit has a dramatic assymetric trim in yellow and white, which they wore in their appearance in the FA Cup final, their first since 1927.

Charlton Athletic

Designer: Joma

Sponsor: Llanera

Charlton have retained last season's home kit but their new away kit is inspired by an obscure strip worn in 1923, when a merger with Catford South End FC was planned but did not come to fruition. The team played for a single season in Catford's navy and sky blue.

Colchester United

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Haart Estate Agents (Home) Smart Energy (Away & Third)

Colchester's home kit is identical to last season's but with a new shirt sponsor. Their all-red away kit is based on a standard Diadora template. The attractive pale blue third kit has had several outings in away matches during the season even when there has been no colour clash.

Coventry City

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Cassidy Group

Puma's new design for Coventry features silver-grey trim against a traditional sky-blue strip.

Crystal Palace

Designer: Errea

Sponsor: GAC Logistics

Palace's new home design, from Errea, has the distinction of being nominated for Room 101 by a Crystal Palace fan within weeks of being released. It is certainly one of the worst efforts presented this season. The white away kit is considerably more elegant but curiously, the version available in their club shop, with red and blue flashes on the body, is rarely used as the flashes on the side of the shirt look too similar to the striped shirts of Southampton, Stoke and the like when seen from the side. Instead the team have adapted their training tops for use against teams wearing striped shirts.

Hull City

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: Karoo (Home) Kingston Communications (Away)

For 2007-08, the Tigers have returned to plain amber shirts, a design that most of their fans prefer to the stripes that have been worn since 2004. Both the home kit and the all-white away strip are based on Umbro's new templates.

Ipswich Town

Designer: Mitre (Home) Punch (Away)

Sponsor: E-ON

The Tractormen have revived the pinstriped shirts last seen during the successful Bobby Robson era.

Leicester City

Designer: Jako

Sponsor: Topps Tiles

For the 2007-08 season, Leicester have reverted to an all-blue kit, a style that has cropped up regularly since its first appearance in 1966. Their away kit features an assymetric shirt design in gold and navy.

Norwich City

Designer: Xara

Sponsor: Flybe.com

Norwich seldom have to turn to their second choice kit but, unusually, there are four teams competing in the Championship this season wearing variations on yellow, so their red kit is guaranteed a number of outings.The special kit was worn just once, against Colchester and was then auctioned off to raise money for the Academy Tactic Zone. The names of season ticket holders were woven into the fabric.

Plymouth Argyle

Designer: Puma

Sponsor: Ginsters Pies

Puma's second design for Argyle is a sleek and simple affair that recalls the club's pre-war kits. The away combination of gold and "Argyle green" looks particularly smart.

Preston North End

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Enterprise plc

After so many years in the lower divisions, Proud Preston's fortunes are improving and they have an eye on the Premier League. Their new home kit is a standard Diadora template while their red away kit has unusual flashes in pinkish grey.

Queen's Park Rangers

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Cargiant

It can't be easy to come up with variations on Rangers' classic broad hoops but the latest offering from Le Coq Sportif manages to look distinctive and traditional.

Scunthorpe United

Designer: Carlotti

Sponsor: Rainham Steel

Since Scunthorpe returned to their traditional claret and blue colour scheme in 1982, the club has not hesitated to experiment with different styles. This kit, the third Carlotti has designed for the club, reduces the sky blue element to a standard trim.

Sheffield United

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Capital One

Sheffield United have taken to changing their home kit every season, a habit that will not endear them to their fans. This season's home design is very similar to their previous kit with the addition of black side panels and slightly broader stripes. The distinctive pale lime green away kit will be hard to miss.

Sheffield Wednesday

Designer: Lotto

Sponsor: Plusnet

Wednesday have changed supplier this season and their new kit carries the Lotto brand. The home strip is very similar to the one worn 2003-05 while their all-orange away kit vies with rivals Sheffield United for the title, "most garish kit in the division."

Southampton

Designer: Saints

Sponsor: Flybe.com

Southampton, who design and market their own kits, involve their fans in their design and stick firmly to a two-year cycle. This is the second season for their current home kit. Their away shirt features subtle pale grey shading, echoed in the third kit.

Stoke City

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Britannia Building Society

New supplier, Le Coq Sportif, have produced a home kit that is only very slightly different to last year's design by Puma. The all navy away kit is distinguished by flowing red and white trim on the chest.

Watford

Designer: Diadora

Sponsor: Beko

For this season Watford have reverted once again to wearing black shorts.

West Bromwich Albion

Designer: Umbro

Sponsor: T-Mobile

The Baggies have opted for a new suite of kits based on Umbro's new template each of which has slightly different trim at the collar. All the elements of these kits could, in theory at least, by mixed and matched.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Designer: Le Coq Sportif

Sponsor: Chaucer Group

Wolves retain their deep old gold and black home kit for a second season, complemented by an all-navy away kit and white third strip.