Kit History
1910-1918 A
1918-1919 A
1919-1920 A
1921-1922 A
late 1922-1923 A
1923-1924 A
1924-1925 A
1925-1926 A
1926-1927 A (1)
1926-1927 A (2)
1927-1928 A
1928-1929 A
1929-1930 A
1930-1933 A
1934-1935 A
1935-1936 A
1948-1949 A
1955-1958 A
1958-1960 A
1960-1964 A
1960-1964 3rd
1964-1966 A
1966-1967 A
1967-1968 A
1968-1972 A
1968-1969 3rd
1970-1971 3rd
1972-1973 A
1973-1977 A
1977-1980 A
1977-1978 3rd
1982-1983 A
1983-1984 A
1983-1984 Eur
1984-1985 A
1984-1985 3rd
1986-1987 A
1986-1987 3rd
1987-1988 A
1989-1991 A
1991-1992 A
1992-1993 A
1993-1994 A
1994-1995 A
1994-1995 3rd 95-96 A
1996-1997 A
1997-1998 A
1998-1999 A
1999-2000 A
2000-2001 A
2001-2002 A
2002-2003 A
2003-2004 A
2003-2004 3rd
2004-2005 A
2005-2006 A
2005-2007 3rd
2006-2007 A 07-08 3rd
2006-2008 Eur
2007-2008 A
2008-2009 A
2009-2010 Eur
Background
Historically speaking, Celtic have rarely resorted to changing from their famous green and white hoops. An early photograph from 1909-10 shows them playing Leith Athletic (black and white vertical striped shirts, white shorts) in their normal hoops. Until the late 1970s they regularly played Hibernian and neither team changed despite both wearing green and white shirts and when they played Leeds United in the European Cup in 1970, neither team changed despite wearing predominantly white.
Nevertheless Celtic have had a change strip in the kit hamper since at least 1910, probably for use against the many Scottish teams that have worn hooped shirts down the years. These were normally variations on plain green shirts although in 1925-26, white shirts with a large green shamrock were used. After the Second World War the shamrock idea was revived at first on plain white shirts but later green sleeves were added. This distinctive outfit was used until the mid 1960s when plain green shirts, worn with white or green shorts, came into favour.
In 1970 an all-yellow kit was used for the first time, adding a third colour to the club's pallette which has been used many times since. The green and black vertical stripes introduced in 1973 proved popular and were revived as recently as 2006.
For the club's 1983 European campaign a striking kit in two shades of green was introduced and served as a third choice kit in domestic competition the following season. During the 90s kit designers reinterpreted the club's iconic hooped home shirts as far as they dared but there were no constraints on them when designing change strips. Celtic sported (albeit rarely) some extravagant kits during this decade.
Since the turn of the century, the most popular combination has been gold and dark green while black, dark grey and bottle green kits have all made appearances.
Sources
- With grateful thanks to Alick Milne and Kerrydale Street
- A = Away (Change) Kit
- 3rd = Third Choice kit
- Eur = Third kit for European competition
Photograph courtesy of Kerrydale Street