The Heat Press ’25: Kit Round Up, 16th July

The Heat Press returns for issue number 5 of it’s summer series looking at the kits released in English Football over the last few days, with 21 new kits launched since Issue 4

The first two issues can be found here – Issue 1 / Issue 2 / Issue 3

A reminder that I will take a regular look at the Kits launched across the English Leagues and beyond, the discussion points and anything else Kit Related that comes up over these pre-season weeks.

I will only share those kits that have been officially released, as there are plenty of leaks that do the rounds but we will keep those official launches.

You will also find my Kit Overview illustrations for each of the four divisions which will used to document the Kit Usage of all 92 English Clubs.

Premier League – 25 / 60 Kits

New Kits:

Nottingham Forest, Home: Well this is a great looking kit, the pinstripes is a nod to kits of the past for Nottingham Forest but this one may be one of the best, the “Garibaldi Red” pinstripe gives the shirt a little more depth, but overall a cracker in my eyes.

Crystal Palace, Home: Macron have delivered one the nicest Home Kits in their relationship, introducing white into the shirt, with white pinstripes with the shirts and white sleeve “tapping”.

AFC Bournemouth, Home: Another nice offering in terms of Home Kit from Umbro for Bournemouth, you just cannot go wrong, however this is a shirt that is let down by the sponsor but luckily there is an option for sponsor-less version for fans to buy.

Aston Villa, Home: Aston Villa are in their second season with Adidas and their new Home Kit fits the current Adidas template, with some gold trim and details which pays tribute to the Holte End at Villa Park.

Manchester United, Away: Manchester United introduce a new colour to their away kit this season, using lilac and plum, this is a kit that is using the classic “snowflake” pattern from their early 90s Away Kit, however much larger in the design than that kit, paired with plum shorts and lilac socks, there are also alternative lilac shorts which I am sure we will see through out the season.

Championship – 30 / 72 Kits

New Kits:

Queen’s Park Rangers, Away: QPR are another team that often look to their past for inspiriation of their change kits, this one looks back 50 years to 1975 / 76 season where they finished 2nd in the old First Division, using pink to give it a modern twist.

Bristol City, 3rd: A funky looking kit is the first offering from Bristol City and O’Neills this season, this all black kit has neon flashes across the shirt (almost northern lights like).

Coventry City, Home: Hummel and Coventry continue their productive relationship, a nice looking kit for this season. It will be all Sky Blue with the rest of the kit in the same shade.

Wrexham, Away: Following a similar template to the home kit, Wrexham’s Away is inspired by colours of the Daffodil, the Welsh National Flower, this will be the first time the club have worn yellow and green since the 90s.

Sheffield United, 3rd: This 3rd Kit is another shirt that is looking to home location for inspiration, this time it is the cultural aspect of the city of Sheffield “Thread Through the Noise, begins at one of Sheffield’s most storied cultural landmarks: The Leadmill. A cornerstone of the city’s music scene since 1980” .

Millwall, Away: A new colour for Millwall’s Away Kit palette, with an all “cream” or dare I day Ecru Kit, paired with navy and mint trim, another nice clean Millwall Kit for this season.

Hull City, Home: Kappa’s only team in English leagues is Hull City and it is a partnership that seems to deliver in terms of design, this season’s Home Kit is another wonderful looking shirt, with the use of “tiger stripes” on the sleeves and a return to amber as the first choice base colour .

Swansea City, Home: The kit launch you did not expect to see, Snoop Dogg and Swansea…. this kit is a “nod” to the Kit worn by 96 / 97 team that reached the Division 3 Play-Off Final under Jan Molby, the kit has a checkered pattern in collar and cuffs, which also appears more subtly within the shirt, shorts and socks.

Sheffield Wednesday, Home: Thicker stripes return for Sheffield Wednesday for this season, and those stripes contain SWFC within them, giving a retro vibe to the shirt. The kit will be matched with blue shorts and socks, the time this colour has been used since 2016 / 17 season.

League One – 43 / 72 Kits

New Kits:

Bradford City, Home: Bradford complete their set for their return to League One by launching their Home Kit, the claret shirt which will contain a thin stripe in amber is a change from the recent years but gives a nice balance in it’s look.

Luton Town, Away: Reflo are looking to make a mark and this away shirt certainly takes a chance, the use of white sleeves really breaks the shirt up and gives it a balance that works with the body of the shirt’s design.

Huddersfield Town, 3rd: This green and gold 3rd kit for Huddersfield Town is a nod to the Yorkshire heritage of the club, the colour is being called “Regal botanical garden green” and there is theme in floral tones with “the main body of the shirt subtly patterned with our floret and the unmistakable Yorkshire rose, the design is inspired by the idyllic hillsides and landscapes present across our home within God’s Own county”, one for those Yorkshire folk!

Port Vale, Away: Port Vale complete arguably the finest set of Retro Home and Away kits this season with this classic looking Away Kit as part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations. The Kit is inspired by the 110-goal title winners of 1958 / 59 Season.

Bolton Wanderers, Away: This all navy kit is a nice alternative to the Home Kit, and looks back to the club’s first European campaign 20 years ago.

League Two – 40 / 72 Kits

New Kits:

Walsall, 3rd: Another team to complete their Kit set, with an all light blue 3rd Kit, Walsall have be a team that have used their kits well in combining elements for Home, Away and 3rd Kits to provide alternative looks to avoid clashes, the black away shorts and shorts may combine well with this shirt, fingers crossed it’s something we will see this season!

Accrington Stanley, Home: Accrington going for a new look this season with this Home Kit, the shirt has a white chest and sleeves with details in red that then continue throughout the rest of the kit.

This week’s Kit News…..

Congratulations on Chelsea wining the FIFA Club World Cup, this will impact the club’s kits moving forward over the coming seasons as they will be wearing a “Champions Badge” on their shirts until the next competition scheduled at the moment for 4 years time!

Manchester City have announced an extension of their Kit Deal with Puma, it has been announced as a multi-year deal but being reported as a minimum of 10 years worth over £1bn throughout that period, this would make it the most lucrative Kit Deal in British Football History.