Kit History
1905-1931
1931 FA Cup change
1931-1959
1959-1960 A
1960-1961 A
1961-1962 A
1963-1964 A
1964-1965 A
1965-1967 A
1965-1967 3rd
1966 FA Cup SF
1967-1968 A
1968-1970 A
1970 FA Cup Final
1970 FA Cup Final Rply
1970-71 A ECWC
1970-1972 A
1972-1973 variant
1972-1975 A
1974-1975 3rd
1976-1977 A
1977-1978 A
1978-1981 A
1980-1981 3rd
1981-1983 A
1981-1983 3rd
1983-1984 A 84-85 3rd
1984-1985 A 85-86 3rd
1985-1986 A
1986-1987 A
1987-1989 A
1987-1988 3rd
1988-1989 3rd 89-90 A
1989-1990 3rd
1990-1992 A
1990-1991 3rd
1991-1993 3rd
1992-1994 A
1993-1994 3rd
1994-1996 A
1996-1997 A
1997-1998 A
1998-2000 A
1998-2000 3rd
2000-2001 A 01-02 3rd
2001-2002 A 02-03 3rd
2001-2002 3rd
2002-2003 A 03-04 3rd
2003-2004 A 04-05 3rd
2004-2005 A
2005-2006 A
2005-2006 3rd
2006-2007 A
2006-2007 3rd
2007-2008 A
2007-2008 3rd
2008-2009 A
2008-2009 3rd
Background
Regrettably HFK has so far not found any relaible evidence of Chelsea's change kits before 1960 although it is probable that the team wore white shirts when there was a clash.
This was certainly the case in the early 60s, although the 1961-62 kit featured red and blue bands across the chest: at the time Chelsea wore red and blue rings on the turnover of their home stockings. The first yellow and blue kit appeared in 1963-64 and has been a popular choice ever since, alternating with all-white throughout the rest of the decade.
In 1972, Chelsea turned out in red shirts for the first time along with green stockings. For the 1974-75 season Chelsea became one of the first teams to introduce a third kit, this in all-white with a broad vertical panel in red and green. Yellow and blue returned in 1977 but the following season the blue became green and this combination lasted until 1981.
When Le Coq Sportif took over from Umbro as Chelsea's kit partner, they introduced an elegant all-blue home kit with white pinstripes and red/white trim along with an identical change kit in yellow and blue and an all-white third choice strip. Between 1983 and 1985 Chelsea wore some adventurous kits with thin horizontal stripes.
In 1986 Chelsea became the first club to market kits under their own brand, The Chelsea Collection, a range that included a dramatic new away strip in "jade." This colour was used the following season when Umbro designed the club's kits, both home and away versions featuring a diamond shaped pinstripe pattern. These were complemented in 1988-89 by an elaborate red third strip with irregular white and blue hoops, an outfit that became the away kit the following season.
The 90s were notable for the introduction of increasingly extravagant designs by the major manufacturers and Chelsea were at the forefront of fashion. Perhaps most noteworthy is the 1994-96 kit in two shades of grey and bright orange. By the end of the decade designs became more restrained and the familiar yellow and blue theme was reintepreted in 2000 with a smart amber and blue outfit. By this stage Chelsea had adopted the now familiar practice of replacing one of their kits on a two-year rotation.
In 2002 the first all-black kit appeared and has remained a popular choice ever since. The 2005-06 away kit featured pale blue-grey shirts and was the last kit to be designed by Umbro for the club.
In 2006 Adidas took over from Umbro and introduced a complete new set of relatively restrained kits in blue (home), black (away) and white (third). Their 2007 contribution included a garish fluorescent yellow and black affair, however, that was hard to miss.
Sources
With acknowledgements to John Devlin's True Colours Vol 1 (ISBN 0713673893)