Stripes Go With Everything

Any fans most exciting part of pre-season, in my eyes, is awaiting the kit reveals. The anticipation, the rumours, then the disappointment when you see it isn’t what you expected.

We’ve had that many times over the last few seasons, but what makes a good kit? Is it evenly spaced stripes? Is it stripes on the back? Is it the uniqueness that is so often lost in kits these days? I don’t think we can answer this, what’s beautiful to one person is ugly to another.

For me, I assimilate a good kit to a good season. The Adidas kits have been horrendous, as have the seasons we’ve played in them.

The 2000-2001 Nike kits were my favourites, our second stint with the Nike swoosh brought with it another 7th place finish in the Premier League whilst also occupying the 2nd place spot for a brief spell in February and quarter finals of the League Cup. I picture Julio Arca, Kevin Phillips, Micky Gray and our Niall. I picture success.

Sunderland’s next 3 years weren’t great, I’ll concede. But still we look back on the Nike kits as classics. In years to come they’ll be as sought after as the white Hummel 1992-93 away kit.

As of next season a new dawn is upon us, Nike are coming back for a 3rd series. What’ll happen? Will the kit be a success or a failure? It is also worth noting the deal will be serviced by Spennymoor based, Just Sport Group. A company themselves steeped in history most notably for their in house brand Avec.

We were the first team in England to have Nike on our kits so I pray we have a nod back to the ‘83 home kit. She was a beauty! I am genuinely excited for the future and for the kit.

For once it feels like they know exactly what we, the fans, want! Whatever the design I’ll buy it and wear it with pride!

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