The Football Kit Podcast

La Liga's recent Retro Weekend pulled the trigger on an idea that has been regularly suggested since the advent of social media. So now that one of the big leagues have done it, will others follow? In this episode Denis, Gavin and Les consider what a Premier League Retro Matchweek might look like if it ran from 1st-4th of May. Our episode artwork by Denis depicts what a Hummel take on a Le Coq Spo...

World Cup fever officially became a pandemic when adidas launched their away kit offerings and Nike followed up with a slew of their own releases. Denis, Gavin and Les convene to seperate the wheat from the chaff. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

Gav and Les are joined by author John Blair to discuss his recent release Football Kit Italia: The Greatest Kits and Characters of the Golazzo Era, a love letter to Channel 4's wonderful calcio output, the key figures and of course the kits of Italian football from 1992 to 2002. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

Denis, Gav and Les return to discuss representative games and the kits worn in them. You know the sort of thing; intra-league affairs, all-star games and unusual groupings of players that demand 'eleven' be despicted in Roman numerals. The kits used are often the very definition of templates, but every now and then something unique and special is created. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (20...

Serie A returns this weekend for the 2025/26 edition. Can Napoli do it again with Kevin de Bruyne? Will Inter bounce back after Scudetto and Champions League final misery? How near are Juve to ending their five year title drought? All good questions but we're here for the kits! Denis, Gav and Les are ably assisted by a bevy of kit geeks with love for Serie A sides in a review of the new season's p...

Euro 2025 is in the books, and England have by hook or crook defended their Women's European Championships title in Switzerland. But what of the polyester on display during the tournament? Denis, Gav and Les are joined by Palace and Lionesses supporter Shanine Salmon to debate the Nordic weather, Cubist art and 80's Spall inspired kitsets seen. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé...

John Devlin and the Superhoops may sound like a 70s prog-rock group, but our episode title refers to the forthcoming release by the godfather of illustrated football kit books, John Devlin. The man behind the essential True Colours tomes turns his attention to Queens Park Rangers in 'Hoops Through History', in which he is assisted by R's historian Chris Guy of @retroQPR. John joins Denis, Gavin an...

The 30th season of Major League Soccer is just days away, so Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by Peter Welpton of the Kickaround, the finest soccer radio show in Dallas, Texas. We discuss the early days of the organisation in 1996, from announcement, team formation and branding, countdown clocks, 35 yard shoot-outs to decide drawn games, the magnificence of Carlos Valderrama's hair, and of course t...

TFKP kit-geeks Denis, Gavin and Les could barely get a word in edgeways when Marc Jones, AFC Wimbledon's Head of Brand, Marketing, and Communications, got going on his love of kits. Which is all good because what Marc has to say is captivating stuff! From the first AFC Wimbledon kits by Tempest Sports to the current 'Little Boy Blue & Coffee Bean' coloured banger of an away shirt by Umbro, Marc ou...

Doing the 92 - Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by Daniel Storey, chief football writer at the i-Paper and author of essential tomes such as Gazza in Italy and 250 Days: Cantona’s Kung Fu and the Making of Manchester United. Daniel talks about his latest project: attending a home game for all 92 professional clubs in the English league structure during the 2024/25 season, and writing a feature abou...

The centenary of legendary kit brand Umbro is an apt time for a book charting the history of that beloved firm, and who better to author such a tome than friend of the podcast Alex Ireland. Alex joins Denis, Gav and Les to talk not just about his fine tome, but also the best of the 2024/25 season kit releases. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permis...

The 2024 FA Cup final is close at hand, and our resident anthem jacket obsessive Les has penned a punishing, five part exploration of the pre-match tracksuit tops/anthem jackets/presentation suits used before finals since 1955. Gav and Denis pepper him with jacket based questions to better understand the traditional sartorial staple of the Wembley (and Millennium Stadium) hosted showpiece events.

As the 2023/24 season comes to a close, it's time to reflect on the kits that have delighted and displeased, as well as noting the wider kit trends. Joining hosts Denis, Gav and Les are a stellar line-up of kit geeks: Sharon Zoomer, Dan Andrews, Kitmanaman Marcus, Alan Gibson of J-Soccer mag, Alex Ireland, Chris Matic, Rodrigo Lara, Derik Ferreira, Stefan Appenowitz and Edward 'Woody' Willoughby....

The release of the new Nike and adidas kits ahead of Euro 24 and the Copa America was somewhat eclipsed by the news of Germany's defection to the Nike stable from 2027, and some folks got their knickers twisted over Nike's 'playful update' of the cross of St. George. But these new kits won't review themselves, so Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by Chris 'Chats Shirts' Matic for a 'playful' critiqu...

Who are we to stand in the way of those demanding a second installment of 'A Question of Strips'? Denis resumes his David Coleman/Sue Barker, while team captains Les and Gav are joined by Kieran Casey of Sartoral Soccer, and Rob Fletcher, author of 1992: The Birth of Modern Football.

Those are some Reffin' good kits! Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by Canadian ref Quentin Benetti, the man behind the wonderfully niche RefereeKitHistory.com site, to take a look at the finest officials kits in living memory. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

Denis, Gav and Les are joined by multidisciplinary kit overlord Phil Delves (of Hummel's 'Behind the Chevrons videos and Red Star Paris 125-years anniversary kit design fame) to sort the wheat from a chaff filled decade. This is '2000s - A STRIP ODYSSEY! Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

The massive impact of Tiny Jerseys: In episode 22 Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by Stephen Rawlings, a California based Borussia Dortmund fan who spends his spare time sculpting wondrously detailed statuettes of classic kits. Stephen helps us to decide what iconic kits would be chiseled into Mount Kitmore, if there was a Mount Rushmore of not tiny, but massive jerseys. Outro track is Teleseme by...

With the launch of 'Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt' imminent, Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by author and 90's long-sleeve Bundesliga shirt enthusiast Alex Ireland. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

In Episode Twenty Denis, Gav and Les are joined by Raimund Simmet, author of Alle Bayern-Trikots, to discuss the rich kit history of Bayern Munich. Additionally, the kit geeks discuss some of the latest kit releases for the 2023/24, the broader trends on show, and which kits delight or horrify. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

Something a bit different... a quiz! Denis channels his inner David Coleman for 'A Question of Strips!' That leaves the other two to be team captains: joining Les is author John Devlin of 'True Colours Football Kits' fame and YouTube kit critic Chris Matic, a.k.a. 'Chris Chats Shirt'. Taking on the Emlyn Hughes/Ally McCoist role is Gav, who leads a team completed by author Alex Ireland of soon to...

As the narrative strands of the 2022/23 season merge into resolution, Denis, Gavin and Les ask each other what they've liked and disliked about kits in a campaign that oddly includes a World Cup finals. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

As the J. League celebrates its 30th anniversary, Denis, Gavin and Les are joined by the estimable Ben Mabley, co-commentator/analyst for DAZN, J-Sports and other outlets, to consider some of the stand-out kits in a league with a distinct visual language. A longer episode than normal! フットボールキットポッドキャストでのJリーグトーク Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings...

Denis, Gavin and Les take a look at another specific club's kit offerings, this time Nottingham Forest. Tricky Trees fan Jim Hearson selects three good ("Barking up the right tree")and three bad ("Can't see the good for the trees") kits from Forest's polyester pantheon. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.

Denis, Gav and Les are joined by the estimable John Devlin of True Colours books and Admiral documentary fame to discuss underrated World Cup kits. Four kitgeeks will nominate six under the radar kits each in a bid to decide the final octet of FIFA tournament underratedness. Outro track is Teleseme by Steve Cobby (2015 Déclassé Recordings). Used with kind permission.