Barnsley Kit History - Every Manufacturer and Sponsor Covered
Barnsley, who are now known to have the primary colours of red and white, originally wore blue up until 1904. Time to find out more about the club’s kit manufacturing and sponsorship history.
Barnsley Shirt History Downloadable Checklist
Barnsley Kit Manufacturing History
2015 – present – Puma
Despite the basicness of Puma’s first two collections, the Barnsley faithful will at least relive fond memories when they look back on the jerseys worn in 2015/16. The club won the Football League Trophy and earnt promotion to the Championship in that campaign.
More meaningful flair came to the forefront in 2017/18, as Puma released an away shirt that was inspired by the colours used throughout the clubs Premier League era. A remarkable limited-edition third strip was also part of this collection and it combined tones of navy with touches of gold – a club related graphic was also imprinted into its front.
The success of the third kit from the previous season seemingly inspired the home kit worn throughout 2018/19, as that too had the club crest embossed into its front. It was used alongside a black away top that had the club’s motto, ‘Spectemur Agendo’, subtly written across its front numerous times in a small red text, looking like pinstripes on first glance. ‘Spectemur Agendo’ means ‘Let Us Be Judged by Our Acts’.
The 2019/20 campaign was the home of another appreciated third shirt and it was inspired by the infamous 1989/90 home jersey. It was white but with a red chest and sleeves that incorporated a tonal star print. Another shirt inspired by the club’s past was the 2021/22 away strip which saw green combined with alternating red and white vertical pinstripes.
In 2022/23, as part of the clubs ‘Together Red’ campaign against discrimination and hate, an all-red special edition version of their home shirt was released. Two eye-catching tonally patterned alternate shirts was also worn in this season.
There was a three-way collaboration in 2023/24, as Puma and Barnsley teamed up with Kid Super to piece together that season’s jerseys. Although, while the black third strip is attractive, the home and away jerseys will certainly split opinion. The home and away top both took inspiration from the aforementioned 1989/90 campaign with large stars imprinted on their front.
In 2024/25, Barnsley are donning a home top which includes 21 stars to pay homage to their 21-game unbeaten run back in 1934 and an away kit which parades an embossed Lancashire Rose. The third kit is quite extraordinary as it is actually dedicated to the club’s mascot, Toby Tyke. So much so, the pink shirt has a showpiece graphic of his face instead of the club crest.
2014 – 2015 – Avec
Sadly, the Avec season didn’t produce the most inspiring designs. The home top had a small stripe feature on its sleeves to go with the white placket on its front. The away kit, which combined yellow and black, held a similar sleeve feature but, instead of a placket, it had one large stripe running down the left-hand side of its base.
2011 – 2014 – Nike
There is a striking sense of low effort surrounding this period that the Tykes had with Nike and it leaves a lot of disappointment.
However, the away jerseys had a little bit about them, including tonal white stripes that expanded towards the lower half of the shirt in 2011/12, thick blue and black zigzagged stripes in 2012/13 and a vertical front of shirt sponsorship feature in 2013/14.
2008 – 2011 – Lotto
Other than every shirt from the first two seasons making use of a centralised club crest, there isn’t anything else that is particularly striking from this Lotto period.
Although, it has to be said that the mustard yellow and navy combination on the 2009/10 away top is quite a good look.
2007 – 2008 – Surridge
Surridge did quite a good job of providing minimal but pleasant jerseys during this period. The stitching on each shirt was intentionally obvious.
2005 – 2007 – Jako
The 2006/07 Jako collection takes the crown of potentially being the smartest, but there is undoubtedly more history etched into the 2005/06 outfits.
This is due to the clubs League One Play-off Final victory over Swansea City – the Tykes won on penalties.
2004 – 2005 – Koala
Koala didn’t really make much use of patterning throughout this campaign, but the polo collar on each became the showpiece – despite their differences. The crossover collar combined with a polo on the away top was particularly eye-catching, especially with its black and white colouring.
2002 – 2004 – Red Flag
In the first year, Red Flag provided two solid polo topped looks that saw the club crest placed centrally. The away top, which had a neckline that combined black, red and grey, was particularly attention catching.
Red Flag’s second season unfortunately wasn’t all that exciting, but the home top held small intrigue through its neckline.
1995 – 2002 – Admiral
Admiral opted for club or area related tonal imprints for the three collections of this period. In 1995/96, the feature was utilised on the away top which was vertically striped blue and black – it had ‘Barnsley Football Club’ embossed several times throughout. In 1996/97, Admiral went wild with the club crest on both jerseys – it was even seen imprinted upside down. Finally, in 1997/98, the home top proudly paraded a large Lancashire Rose on its sleeves.
A smart white away strip also came out of the 1997/98 season, while the other aforementioned campaign, 1996/97, saw an attractive light blue, black and yellow combination. Admiral were also not afraid of more interestingly coloured alternate jerseys, with light lime yellow used in 1998/99 and a lime green and navy look being worn in 2000/01 – both had their fans.
It is tough to decide which is the nicest looking Admiral home top of this period, but it is pretty easy to narrow it down between the versions worn in 1998/99 and 2000/01, respectively. The former had tonal stripes and a striking crossover collar which was hooped red, white and black. The latter saw a classy V-neck and polo combined neckline, plus white and black colour blocks on is sleeves.
The 1999/00 campaign was labelled the ‘millennium season’ and Admiral stitched text on its front to mark it. The away shirt was particularly appreciated.
1993 – 1995 – Pelada
The Pelada home jerseys were pleasant enough, but the striped away shirts somewhat overpowered them.
The 1994/95 away top, which has since been modernised by Puma in 2021/22, caught huge intrigue with its alternating red and white stripes placed on its green base.
1991 – 1993 – Gola
A white polo collar paired the red bases of both Gola home jerseys and they each had the club’s abbreviation stitched in. The neckline of the 1991/92 version also included smart patterning along the edge of the neckline and that feature complimented the shirts tonally chequered base nicely. The patterned base was replicated on the away top.
The 1992/93 strip also had a tonally patterned background with a brush stroke effect on show. It’s accompanying yellow and black away top ditched the tonal feature but kept the neckline.
1989 – 1991 – Beaver
Only one Beaver shirt hit the headlines and it did so in force, with the club moving away from a traditional red base for 1989/90. This was for the famous star shirt which has been alluded to throughout the article.
While the jerseys top half was red and filled with white stars, the bottom half was white with red side panelling and tonal stripes.
1988 – 1989 – Intersport
All three Intersport kits followed the same concept but in different colourings. They each smartly incorporated tonal chevrons throughout their base but had a striping zigzag pattern flowing down their sleeves.
1986 – 1988 – In-House
The same two jerseys remained in place for both in-house seasons. They followed the same design plan of pairing tonal pinstripes with one vertical large colour block on the fronts right-hand side.
1979 – 1986 – Umbro
This Umbro spell defined simple and traditional with nothing flashy nor out of the ordinary ongoing.
One home shirt survived four seasons and it was a particularly smart look with its golden Umbro branding. It’s thick old-school V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs are fantastic.
Every away shirt was a safe white and black.
1977 – 1979 – Admiral
Admiral were the first brand to provide for the Tykes and they introduced themselves with a template that saw the Admiral logos flowing consecutively down the jersey’s sleeves.
Barnsley Shirt Sponsorship History
Barnsley struck their first front of shirt sponsorship deal in 1980. Let’s explore which brands they have partnered with…
2024 – present – Gleeson Homes
Gleeson Homes is one of the UK’s leading housebuilders. They operate a text-based feature.
2023 – 2024 – US Mobile
US Mobile is a US based mobile network and their logo, which appeared on the shirt, features an eagle. Usually, this look wouldn’t look so good, but it complimented that season’s star jersey fairly well.
2022 – 2023 – Various
HEX.com, a cryptocurrency site, originally took the slot for 2022/23, but this ended abruptly when it was discovered that the people who brokered the deal had posted controversial social media posts.
Following this ordeal, the club opted to bring in various sponsors for one-off games, including the aforementioned US Mobile. Barnsley Hospice also received exposure. The club also used the slot to promote their ‘Together Red’ campaign.
2019 – 2022 – The Investment Room
The Investment Room is a property investment and development company. Their feature was relatively clean.
2011 – 2019 – C.K. Beckett
Barnsley-based C.K. Beckett specialises in transformers and switchgear. They included a nice motto in their piece, which was ‘Supporting Sport in the Community’. The firm also held a stand at Oakwell.
2008 – 2011 – Barnsley Building Society
Financial service specialists, Barnsley Building Society, held their second of two spells from 2008 until 2011.
2007 – 2008 – Wake Smith Solicitors
Wake Smith Solicitors is a Yorkshire based firm. They had a classy all-text look.
2005 – 2008 – Barnsley Building Society
Barnsley Building Society, which is now part of Yorkshire Building Society, first partnered with the Tykes in 2005. Their logo, which was only part of the feature for one season during the second spell, ruined it slightly.
2003 – 2005 – VK Vodka
The branding of VK Vodka appeared for two seasons. Somewhat surprisingly, it looked quite good.
2001 – 2004 – iSoft
iSoft is an international supplier of software applications for the healthcare sector. They held an all-text look.
2000 – 2001 – Big Thing
The font and formatting of Big Thing’s feature gave it some creative edge. It is believed that Big Thing was an internet portal and search engine.
1994 – 2000 – ORA
ORA operated within the mobile accessories industry and they made this known within their feature. A personal favourite was when they opted to curve the term ‘mobile phone accessories’ around their logo and brand name.
1991 – 1994 – Hayselden
Hayselden is a family-owned car dealership that has been trading in South Yorkshire since 1959. With the inclusion of the logo, their feature also promoted the Volkswagen range.
1989 – 1991 – Shaw Carpets
Barnsley-based carpet warehouse and supplier, Shaw Carpets, ran a simple text-based look.
1988 – 1989 – Lyons Cakes
Lyons Bakery, whose aim was to be the biggest bakery in the world, promoted their cake range in 1988/89.
1986 – 1988 – Sandal Bayern
Another car dealership in Sandal Bayern held the slot for two seasons.
1984 – 1986 – Brooklands Motel
Brooklands Motel held an all-text look. There are suggestions that this firm has now been taken over by Holiday Inn.
1981 – 1984 – Hayselden
Hayselden first partnered with the club in 1981. They were the second brand to sponsor the Tykes’ shirt.
1980 – 1981 – Taits
Taits were the first company to take the slot. Sadly, we cannot verify their field of work.
Conclusion
While there are plenty of uninteresting periods in-between, hats off to Puma who are now steering away from bland attempts in a bid to bring back some of the flair that Admiral, and some of those before them, portrayed. Interestingly, and to some extent uniquely, no betting firm has sponsored the front of a Barnsley shirt.