Top 100 Football Shirts of 2020/21 - (Part Three: 80-71)
This is Part 3 of 10. Explore the rest of the countdown:
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
80. Southampton - Third
If we were delivering this in the form of a school student report, we’d say: “Good, but could do better". The reversal of the sash compared to the home isn’t to everybody’s tastes, but we don’t mind that too much, however the fact that the palette differs slightly – gold as the third colour compared to black on the home – is slightly irritating.
We’d also like to see the kits used interchangeably, but at Burnley at the end of September, the Saints could have worn the home shorts with this shirt but didn’t.
Compare prices on Southampton shirts
79. Hertha Berlin - Away
A good ol’ fashioned Jackson Pollock of an effort from Hertha Berlin x Nike here, a unicorn of the kit world to boot: sponsorless. Inter Milan have proven that black and blue will always work as a powerful combination, Die Alte Dame must have taken note.
Alright, ignore the fact that the badge looks like it’s been knocked up on Microsoft Paint. It’s easier to avoid that fact if you’re too busy trying to figure out the message hidden in this work of art. Ich bin ein Berliner indeed.
- Kevan Thorpe, FOOTY.COM.
Compare prices on Hertha Berlin shirts
78. Netherlands - Home
I love seeing animals on football shirts and this season’s Netherlands home shirt doesn’t disappoint. This is all about the lion. At first, the shirt seems very similar to the Netherlands’ 2000 home with the traditional orange body and the thick, black v-neck collar. However, this is where the similarities end.
As with most Nike shirts this season, the Dutch shirt also has the lightning-shaped side panels with these being black, complementing the rest of the shirt. However, all these design features play second fiddle to the massive, geometric lion that dominates the body of the shirt.
The great thing about the lion is that by using a different shade of orange, it avoids being garish or busy and instead seems to blend in. Fantastic!
The Oranje have always had a knack for producing incredible kits, who could forget the 1988-89 blinder? Taken from the KNVB crest, the fearless lion is knitted throughout the body and gives it a unique and interesting look. Orange and black can never do wrong in my book.
- Kevan Thorpe, FOOTY.COM.
Compare prices on Holland shirts
77. Walsall - Away
You might be itching to tell me a bus has run over this, but Errea have come up with something really interesting here. Okay, so you can refer to it as “tyre tracks” if you really want to, but this streaky pattern definitely offers a refreshing twist on Walsall’s classic colour palette. It works quite well on their yellow third kit, too.
It’s one of those kits which really walks the tightrope between tacky and smart, but fortunately the details in the pattern help this fall on the right side of that line. Plus, if you did happen to run over it one day, then maybe you’d get away without anyone noticing.
- Ben Hyde, FOOTY.COM.
76. Lincoln City - Home
Another team that have looked to their past for inspiration for this season’s kit, Lincoln City’s traditional red and white stripes is something that the club have moved away from more often than you would think.
This season sees that change again where they replicate looks used in 1989/90 (Spall) and 1995/96 (Admiral) by introducing a predominately red shirt with white “Pinstripe” (I am not sure the stripe is thin enough to be called a pinstripe but let’s go with that for the moment), there is also some great use of black trim within the collar and cuffs which works well with the black shorts.
The overall look is very 90s and as a one-off for this season works well. However, I do think the shirt is let down by the sponsor, which is within a red panel breaking the pinstripes - given the logo on the shirt makes it slightly jarring to eyes, more thought given to this design could have led to a greater overall look.
- Gavin Hope, Football Kit Geek.
75. Newcastle United - Third
As a Toon fan, I’m always eagerly awaiting my team’s shirts. The third shirt for me is the best of this year’s trio. Referencing the steelwork of the Tyne Bridge will please the faithful, while the amazingly bonkers fizzy yellow and violet will dazzle and delight the rest. I can see this being very popular.
- The Kitsman.
Compare prices on Newcastle shirts
74. Venezia - Home
A distinctive colourway goes a long way in kits.
Arguably, it’s the reason Roma shirts will always have something about them. Wolves (and Hull City for that matter) can get away with anything in my eyes because of their beautiful combo.
Venezia are one such team, and their new home and away kits are breathtaking largely because of their colours. Swap even just one of the orange, black or green bands and I’d wager that the side wouldn’t crack the list.
I should also mention the ‘sponsor’ too; a wordmark which is typically delightful from the club.
- Phil Delves.
73. Manchester City - Third
You’ve looked at the pic of the Man City third shirt and right now you’re reading this text and waiting for it to be slated and condemned for its inclusion in this list, or you’re nodding in approval because you think it’s a bold move from Puma.
It’s a love or hate shirt, nothing in between, and this correspondent happens to side with the former: a football shirt of the like we’ve not seen before.
- Kit Crimes.
I’m honestly really surprised this has made it onto our list at all, let alone as high as 73rd. I actually had this down as one of the worst shirts of the year, although you've got to give Puma credit for really sticking to their paisley-patterned guns!
- Ben Hyde, FOOTY.COM.
Compare prices on Man City shirts
72. Northwich Victoria - Home
There are some real gems found in the lower depths of English football. More specifically, the Cheshire town of Northwich has developed a real taste for beautiful football shirts, and this time it’s the Vics blowing Premier League giants out the water.
Their home shirt is just so damn smooth. The fantastic sash pattern is actually based on a shirt they wore back in the early 90s, and it’s the kind of throwback we’d all be gushing over if this were one of the bigger teams. It’s all been freshened up with the typical modern goodness, and they also happen to have one of the best keeper kits of the year, too.
- Ben Hyde, FOOTY.COM.
71. Barcelona - Away
Sam Sparro knew it had potential back in 2008, and now we all know the black and gold combination is a big hit when it comes to kit design too. Nothing is trying too hard on this shirt, which is part of its effortless beauty. Gold crest, gold sponsor, gold trim.
The Blaugrana fans may be a little upset with their team’s fall from the tiki-taka heights of the late-noughties, but this is a release which will be sure to cheer them up. Maybe a tiny bit?
- Kevan Thorpe, FOOTY.COM.
Compare prices on Barcelona shirts
NEXT>
This is Part 3 of 10. Explore the rest of the countdown:
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
