Kit History
3 Nov 1890 v Notts Co
6 Dec 1890 v Wolves
1892-1893
1902-1903 A
1906-1907 A
1909 A
1922-1923 A
1925-1929 A
1929-1930 A
1930-1931 A
1932 A
1933 FA Cup Final
1935-1939 A
1946-1947 A
1952-1953 A
1954 A
1957-1958 A
1958-1960 A
1960-1961 A
1961-1962 A
1962-1963 A
1964-1967 A
1968-1971 A
1971-1972 A
1972-1974 A
c1972 3rd
1975 A
1976-1978 A
1978-1979 A
1979-1982 A
1982-1983 A
1982-1983 3rd
1983-1985 A
1983-1985 3rd
1985-1986 A
1985-1986 3rd
1986-1988 A
1988-1990 A
1988-1990 3rd
1990-1992 A
1992-1994 A
1992-1993 3rd
1993-1994 3rd
1994-1995 A
1995-1996 A
1996-1997 A
1997-1998 A
1998-1999 A
1998-1999 3rd
1999-2000 A
2000-2001 A
2000-2001 3rd
2001-2002 A
2001-2002 3rd
2002-2003 A
2002-2003 3rd
2003-2004 A
2003-2004 3rd
2004-2005 A
2004-2005 3rd
2005-2006 A
2005-2006 3rd
2006-2007 A
2006-2007 3rd
2007-2008 A
2007-2008 3rd
2008-2009 A
2008-2009 3rd
2009-2010 A
2009-2010 3rd
2010-2011 A
2010-2011 3rd
2011-2012 A
2011-2012 3rd
2012-2013 A
2012-2013 3rd
Background
For most of the twentieth century Everton wore white shirts, black shorts and their usual home stockings when required to change. The first variation appeared in 1959 when a blue horizontal band was added to the shirt. The following season new colour scheme of amber shirts and black shorts appeared but soon afterwards traditional plain white shirts and black shorts were reinstated.
In 1968 Everton wore amber shirts and royal blue shorts in the FA Cup final against West Brom. Although Everton lost, the colour combination proved popular and became the regular choice. Although alternative combinations have been introduced from time-to-time, various shades of yellow and of blue have been regularly reinstated.
The first notable exception was in 1983 when Le Coq Sportif, having replaced Umbro as Everton's kit supplier, designed a silver grey outfit, a daring innovation at the time. The more familiar yellow and blue was reinstated two seasons later but in 1988 Umbro, designed a striking white and grey striped top.
In 1992 another innovative design appeared, taking inspiration from one of the team's early kits. The salmon pink and navy striped shirt was certainly distinctive but received a mixed reception from supporters. Umbro's 1994-96 away kit paid lip service to Everton's old combination of white shirt and black shorts but with complex detailing typical of 90s design. This was replaced in 1996 by another audacious design of black and gold stripes with a fading blue flash across the chest.
In 2000 Puma were awarded the contract for supplying Everton's kits. Their first two kits drew on tradition, an amber and blue away kit and a third choice of white shirt with a blue band inspired by the team's 1959 change kit. The following season Puma introduced two rather more radical designs, including a third choice shirt that revived salmon pink.
In 2004 Umbro once again became Everton's kit partner. While their designs have reflected the restraint typical of the period, they have not been afraid to experiment with unorthodox shades and reinterpretations of traditional combinations, an approach continued by Le Coq Sportif from 2009.
Sources
- A = Away (change) kit
- 3rd = Third choice kit
- With acknowledgements to John Devlin's True Colours Vol 1 (ISBN 0 7136 7389 3)
Photograph courtesy of Blue Kipper.com