Birmingham City Shirt History
Birmingham City were the first club to ever be crowned champions of England’s second division. Let’s delve into the Blues’ kit manufacturing and sponsorship history…
Birmingham City Kit History Checklist
Birmingham City Kit Manufacturing History
2020 – present – Nike
Just one of the home jerseys which Nike has provided hasn’t featured any tonal patterning at all and that is the 2024/25 version. This version instead is a nod to a top worn between 1986 and 1988, with its large white horizontal colour block running across its middle.
Only the 2023/24 edition didn’t see an ‘all-over’ tonal base feature, albeit it was still a key feature with it sitting around the front of shirt sponsorship area – interestingly only this shirt and the 2021/22 home top paraded no white at all. In terms of tonal aspects, it has to be said that the combination of horizontal stripes and small tonal slashes looked really nice in 2022/23.
Nike were the providers of the Blues’ first red kit since 2016/17 in 2020/21 and after this they utilised the colour again in 2022/23 and 2023/24. However, the 2020/21 edition was solely red, while the other two campaigns also incorporated either navy or black in a boastful manner. The 2022/23 strip is acclaimed to be a nod to the 90’s.
On the subject of boastful, be sure to check out the 2021/22 third kit which funkily combining orange and green. Although, this campaign is the perfect example that sometimes less is more with the yellow and blue pinstriped away top being the more attractive option.
We can’t leave this section without mentioning the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes memorial shirt which was released in 2022/23. It featured an ‘Arthur 6’ graphic in its centre and it was worn for one game against Preston North End in January 2023. Each year the club commemorates Arthur’s birthday by raising money for the NSPCC. On this occasion, they did this by selling the commemorative kit, selling teddy bears and by auctioning off the player match worn versions.
2016 – 2020 – Adidas
Minimalistic would probably be the best word to describe this Adidas period, although none of the shirts were necessarily bad looking.
In 2018/19, the three-stripe brand supplied the Blues with their first yellow away top in five years and it remained active in 2019/20 but as the third strip. Yellow also found its way onto the home top in 2019/20 through a small trim around the neckline and sleeve cuffs.
Adidas coolly paraded their famous three stripes down the sides of the 2016/17 and 2018/19 home looks, with the latter believed to be throwing it back to the 80’s.
2014 – 2016 – Carbrini
Carbrini opted for a solid blue home strip which utilised tonal pinstripes in their first season as suppliers – it also incorporated a cool neckline which combined a V-neck and a polo. Their first away top, which was rather Ajax like with it seeing a large red colour block running down the centre of its white base, was inspired by 2008/09.
The clubs 140th anniversary was brilliantly acknowledged in 2015/16 with a special home shirt being supplied. It boasted a white sash on its front in reference to the first jersey worn by Small Heath Alliance, the Blues’ founding group, in 1875. It was made extra special by the fact that the sash was filled with the names of supporters who pre-ordered the club’s special edition ‘140 year woven in history package’ which was pieced together to honour the landmark – a brilliant initiative and opportunity.
Sadly, the 2015/16 away look, which combined yellow, red and black, wasn’t as easy on the eye, albeit it was iconic with it taking us back to the Trevor Francis era in 1972. As on the home top, this strip also boasted a special edition club crest.
2012 – 2014 – Diadora
Despite the same design brief being in place on all three of the first campaigns jerseys, it was the alternate looks which caught the attention of most and this is because they both made use of pink. The away top was black with small pink touches, while the third strip was primarily a blush version of the colour.
Unfortunately, the 2013/14 look wasn’t so memorable, albeit the home top did incorporate a look which has been common with the Blues over the years. It saw a blue base paired with a white central vertical colour block.
2010 – 2012 – Xtep
Birmingham defied the odds to win the League Cup in 2010/11 and this has resulted in that season’s home top in particular having an element of iconic-ness about it. It boasted a white V on its chest and it had hugely noticeable side panelling. Coolly, one sleeve cuff had the word ‘Xtep’ looping around it.
The trophy win of 2010/11 meant that Xtep and the Blues went on a European tour together in 2011/12, with Europa League football being secured. However, there is a funny story about this campaign’s jerseys with the away top, which fans were initially pleased with, never actually seeing a competitive fixture due to Chris Hughton, the manager at the time, taking a disliking to the colour combination.
2007 – 2010 – Umbro
The first season of this partnership saw a common Umbro template in place with the home and away kits both sporting patterned side panelling. The second campaign was a little better, with each jersey utilising diagonal pinstripes. The away top was, again, Ajax-like.
The last campaign of this period saw a solid home design, with a white chest feature and tonal striping in place. Although, albeit much simpler, the black away top, which incorporated small white and yellow touches, was a more favourable look.
2005 – 2007 – Lonsdale
Unfortunately, none of the Lonsdale shirts are that desirable on a design front, however, supporters may have some attachment to the 2006/07 collection due to their instant Premier League return following their relegation in the previous campaign.
2004 – 2005 – Diadora
Diadora stuck to the same design brief on both jerseys in place, with each of them making use of a polo collar that held a small stripe feature. The feature was matched with another small stripe touch on the sleeves. The home top combined blue, white and black, while the away switched blue for red.
1998 – 2004 – Le Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif got off to a flying start during this period, with a brilliant first home jersey which combined two shades of blue while having elements of the Le Coq Sportif logo running down its sleeves. The French brands sleeve feature was sandwiched between two lines which saw the club’s abbreviation flowing consecutively. The 1998/99 away top was also a good effort, with it mixing black and white nicely.
Thin vertical stripes became the theme of 1999/00, as the home and away top followed a similar striped concept – each top also housed a central club crest. The Blues’ crest remained in a central position on the yellow 2000/01 away top, but it was discarded for that years classy V-neck home look.
The club crest returned to a central spot on the 2001/02 home kit, where the Le Coq Sportif branding took up an eye-catching position within its polo collar. The final two home shirts made use of tonal base features.
1996 – 1998 – Pony
Both of the home tops during this period were the most impressive, with a striking element of both of them being the classy polo necklines. The 1996/97 edition included prominent black side panelling, while the 1997/98 version saw a variation of the blue base but white vertical central stripe look.
1993 – 1996 – Admiral
The brand kickstarted the partnership with two solid shirts which both saw embossed Admiral logos. They each also had a polo collar which had ‘Blues’ stitched into it. The away top was an extra classy version of the yellow base but blue pinstripe concept, while the home had striking abstract white sleeve patterning.
The 120-year collection of 1994/95 also saw embossed features, but this time it was the club crest which was utilised. Both jerseys also had an ‘1875’ graphic in the centre of its neckline.
The final home top of this period is arguably the boldest and this also saw tonal imprints. This time the phrase ‘The Blues’ and ‘BCFC’ was embossed throughout the background. Another striking feature was that Admiral chosen to print their name within its crewneck neckline rather than use their emblem. The 1995/96 third strip, which combined black, white and blue stripes, is another eye-catching jersey.
1991 – 1993 – Influence
Influence provided two striking home shirts with the 1992/93 version undoubtedly being the most striking – it had a blue based filled with brushstroke like yellow strips. It toughly made the white dash feature on the 1991/92 version seem minimal.
1986 – 1991 – Matchwinner
The 2024/25 home shirt is inspired by Matchwinners’ first home top of this period – except a key difference is Matchwinner included tonal striping.
An eye-catching yellow away look boasting tonal Matchwinner logos was in place in 1990/91 This was used alongside a home top which experimented with a tie-dye effect.
1982 – 1986 – Patrick
The same minimal, and unfortunately a little boring, central crest concept was in place on all of the shirts for the first three seasons.
In 1985/86, Patrick decided to introduce elements of red to each jersey – even the home top!
1977 – 1982 – Adidas
Adidas Originals branding was in place, but the jerseys were minimalistic, with the only change being replacing a crewneck collar for a V-neck one from 1980/81 onwards.
1975 – 1977 – Umbro
Umbro were the first brand to provide for the Blues. They provided a jersey utilising the large white stripe concept in their first campaign – that years red away top also saw a stripe feature.
Birmingham City Shist Sponsorship History
Let’s see which brands have appeared front and centre of a Birmingham shirt…
2023 – present – Undefeated
Given the brands which they have collaborated with, it is considered quite a coup that streetwear brand, Undefeated, have chosen the Blues as their first step into football.
2019 – 2023 – Boylesports
Irish gambling brand, Boylesports, opted for a text-based feature which included their tagline of ‘This is betting’.
2016 – 2019 – 888 Sport
888 Sport, a betting firm, held a simplistic feature.
2015 – 2016 – EZE Group
Eze Group was a travel and leisure company.
2014 – 2015 – Zapaygo
Payment app, Zapaygo, opted for an all-text look.
2013 – 2014 – Nicolites
Not to everybody’s liking, the Blues controversially partnered with electronic cigarette manufacturer Nicolites in 2013/14.
2012 – 2013 – EZE Group
Promoting their URL, Eze Group first partnered with Birmingham in 2012.
2011 – 2012 – Rational FX
Rational FX were the providers of foreign exchange and payment services to corporate and retail clients.
2007 – 2011 – F&C Investments
Asset management company, F&C Investments, displayed their logo.
2003 – 2007 – Flybe
Flybe was a British airline which ceased in 2020. In all but their first year, they promoted their website.
2001 – 2003 – Phones4U
Due to the red background, Phone4U’s feature was an eye sore. They were an independent mobile phone retailer.
1995 – 2001 – Auto Windscreens
A classy all-text feature was chosen by automotive glass repair and replacement firm, Auto Windscreens.
1992 – 1995 – Triton Showers
Bathroom specialists, Triton Showers, held a feature which saw the word Triton in a larger font than the word showers. Showers was sometimes difficult to read.
1989 – 1992 – Mark One
Mark One, a clothing store, had a solid text-look in all but the first season. The first year saw an unappealing large white background.
1988 – 1989 – Evans Halshaw
Evans Halshaw is a car dealership.
1986 – 1988 – Co-op Milk
The Co-op Milk deal is thought to have come at a positive time for the club in terms of finances.
1983 – 1985 – Ansells
Ansells is a Birmingham-based brewery and they were the first organisation to secure a partnership of this nature.
Conclusion
The Influence and Admiral period during the 90’s is by far the standout period of Birmingham’s shirt design history, although other brands, such as Le Coq Sportif, have had interesting concepts too. Overall, the Blues have avoided too many shockers.