Blackpool FC Shirt History
Blackpool achieving promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2010 means that they are the first club to ever be promoted from every division of the Football League via the play-off system. Let’s explore their kit manufacturing and sponsorship history…
Blackpool Shirt History Downloadable Checklist
Blackpool Kit Manufacturing History
2020 – present – Puma
Puma followed an uninteresting first campaign with three appreciated jerseys being produced for the second. Eye-catching patterning was the showpiece feature on the home and away kits worn throughout 2020/21, but the third kit is much more personable with the popular ‘Tower Power’ crest returning in force.
History was again revisited in 2022/23, this time through a fantastic home top inspired by a jersey worn in 1989/90 and a unique away kit based on the one worn in 1992/93. A navy third top, which incorporated wavy horizontal blue stripes to pay homage to their seaside base, completed the set.
The 2023/24 campaign marked the Seasiders 100th year of playing in tangerine, however, despite this fact, the home top in place felt pretty bland. There was nothing plain about the alternate jerseys used alongside it though, with them both being inspired by famous Blackpool landmarks and events – the away kit tributed the Winter Garden’s and the third top referred to the Blackpool Illuminations.
Spoiler alert – the 2024/25 away kit is sponsored by the Pleasure Beach and the navy strip, which combines an outrageous blue, purple and orange pattern, is inspired by the theme parks rides and shapes – albeit beautifully done, the third kit used for 2024/25, which is white with tangerine pinstripes, almost feels bland in comparison.
2013 – 2020 – Errea
Errea provided a minimalistic home jersey and a white away top which paraded a tangerine sash for the first two seasons. A third jersey was added for the second year and this was black with a chunky conjoined tangerine and white vertical stripe running down its centre.
Simplicity was the basis of pretty much all of the home tops provided by Errea, but this wasn’t the case of the 2015/16 edition which incorporated thin spaced out white vertical stripes on its tangerine base. The away kit held the same concept in navy and tangerine.
By the end of this period, the Blackpool faithful were seemingly ready for more spice to be added to the jerseys with the fans voting for an away top that combined two shades of blue instead a basic but clean white one.
2011 – 2013 – Fila
Fila provided two polo collared home tops for both of these campaigns – both were basic, although the white away top marginally had a bit more of an edge to it with its tonal striping.
A third top was released for 2012/13 and this had the responsibility of honouring the clubs 125th anniversary. The navy strip included commemorative stitching which surrounded the club crest, plus landmark printing on the inside of its collar.
2009 – 2011 – Carbrini
Although this era didn’t provide too much to talk about in terms of design, it certainly did so in terms of history with the clubs record-breaking Premier League promotion coming in 2009/10. The Seasiders ended their 39-year top flight absence with a 3-2 play-off final win over Cardiff City.
The 2010/11 campaign didn’t go to plan with instant relegation but just participating in the Premier League has automatically ensured the Carbrini jerseys are filled with prestige.
2007 – 2009 – Carlotti
Carlotti provided three shirts that were designed slightly differently but all put emphasis on their side panelling. They were pretty uninspiring.
2005 – 2007 – Uhlsport
Uhlsport is another brand that has provided a promotion earning shirt for the Seasiders with the club achieving promotion to the Championship in 2006/07 with a 2-0 play-off final win against Yeovil Town. This ended a 29-year Championship absence.
Unfortunately, none of the shirts were that champion, with a not-so-good-looking third jersey, which mixed maroon, light blue and tangerine, taking the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
2003 – 2005 – Sporta
A lovely away shirt that was black with various tangerine touches was in place for both Sporta campaigns. As was a home top that had held some intrigue with its tonal tangerine striping.
Sporta also provided Blackpool with a special-edition strip, which saw white sleeves combine with a tangerine base, for the 2003/04 Football League Trophy final in which they triumphed in.
2001 – 2003 – TFG Sports
The same three TFG Sports jerseys were in place for both seasons. The home top caught the most attention with its showpiece crossover V-neck neckline seeing club’s abbreviation classily stitched into it.
Away from home, Blackpool either wore a white away top with prominent tangerine touches or a third strip striped blue and navy which incorporated tangerine outlines.
1999 – 2001 – Super League
The Super League period is another era in which Blackpool tasted promotion during and the same three kits were in use for both campaigns.
Plenty of white was on show through the home top, with it having thick side panelling, a chunky V-neck collar and quite large sleeve cuffs.
The white away top had all the potential to be a classic with its lovely polo collar, but it is let down by other tangerine features. However, the predominantly navy third top stepped up to take that crown…
1997 – 1999 – Lotto
Lotto produced one collection during their time as manufacturers and it contained a strikingly questionable third top that was blue but included various types of patterning combining navy, white, black, and orange.
A fine home and away top was also supplied and they each followed the same concept which saw the Lotto crest embossed into their base multiple times. Black and white striping was used within their collar and sleeve cuffs.
1995 – 1997 – In House
Three shirts with a centralised club crest came within this in-house period.
The fabulously collared third strip is filled with the most personality with thick white and navy stripes, plus tangerine pinstripes, making up its base. The club crest was also imprinted into its background consecutively.
1993 – 1995 – Pelada
Pelada made up for unintriguing outfield kits by creating outrageous goalkeeping jerseys that merged various colours together.
1991 – 1993 – Gola
The same home top, which incorporated a smart tonally patterned base and an eye-catching polo collar, was used for both seasons.
For the first year, the away strip followed the same concept as described above but in different colours, however it was ditched for 1992/93 with Gola birthing a classically designed strip that Puma reproduced for 2022/23. It was white with random blue dashes throughout.
1990 –1991 – Cavendish Sports
Cavendish Sports didn’t get overly creative but they produced two bearable jerseys filled with thin tonal stripes. The collar on each was a different colour to its base.
1989 – 1990 – MGC Sports
During this short partnership MGC Sports certainly left their mark with a lovely home top filled with a lozenges pattern – it is another shirt that Puma modernised for 2022/23. The away kit was unexciting.
1988 – 1989 – Scoreline
Side panelling ran right the way up each shirt that Scoreline put together for this campaign.
The light blue side panelling on the away top was the flashiest, with it being partnered with a navy base and an orange collar that incorporated blue and white loops.
1984 – 1988 – Lowfield
Lowfield begun with minimalistic jerseys for the first two seasons before introducing different designs featuring centralised club crests for the second two.
Somewhat uniquely, there were two small Lowfield logos, rather than one big one, on either side of the club crest on the 1986/87 versions – it surprisingly wasn’t unattractive.
1983 – 1984 – Hobott
In just one campaign Hobott provided Blackpool with three different versions of their home shirt and two editions of their away kit.
Despite none being bad, Hobott’s first attempt at a home top was probably the best, with its classy polo collar and white sleeve striping.
The biggest difference between the two away kits was the introduction of tangerine.
1974 – 1983 – Umbro
Umbro were the first brand to manufacture for the Seasiders. Despite a lengthy deal, as expected the designs were fairly simplistic. Umbro deciding to add a feature which saw their logo flow down the shirts sleeve consecutively in 1980/81 was a positive introduction.
Blackpool Kit Sponsorship History
Blackpool have a lengthy list of shirt sponsorship partners, so let’s get into it…
2024 – present – TreadTracker / Pleasure Beach
The URL of TreadTracker, a comprehensive digital fleet inspection software solution, appears on just the home shirt. To add romance to the deal, the firm’s owner is a Blackpool supporter.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the town’s theme park, sponsors the away kit.
2023 – 2024 – LeoVegas
LeoVegas is a Swedish mobile gaming company and a provider of online casino and sports betting services. They utilised a paw-print inspired text-based feature.
Morally, this was a sponsorship that was subject to criticism.
2022 – 2023 – Utilita
Energy supplier, Utilita, opted to use their logo. This included their tagline ‘Life with Power’.
Commendably, they altered their branding on occasions to support the LGBTQ+ community and connected charity Utilita Giving.
2019 – 2022 – Visit Blackpool / Utility Team / Get Vocal
Blackpool worked with three sponsors between 2019 and 2022.
Visit Blackpool, who work to promote tourism within the area, took up the home top in all three seasons with a feature combining their URL and a clean graphic of the town’s popular attractions.
Get Vocal sponsored the away kit for two seasons and the third top for 2021/22. Get Vocal is brilliant initiative encouraging men to turn up and talk.
Net zero energy consultants, Utility Team, had the 2021/22 away strip.
2018 – 2019 – Betsid
Gambling firm, Betsid, held a text-based feature for a year.
2016 – 2018 – TP.
TP is a Digital Marketing Agency. They used their simplistic logo.
2015 – 2016 – Village
Hotel group, Village Hotels, had an unpleasant feature due to its wrongfully eye-catching white background.
2010 – 2015 – Wonga
Blackpool paired with Wonga, a payday loan firm, for five seasons.
Wonga’s branding is bright blue which unsurprisingly didn’t look great, although they did allow the feature to turn tangerine on occasions.
2008 – 2010 – Carbrini
Carbrini sponsored and manufactured the jerseys for the 2009/10 season.
2007 – 2008 – Floors 2 Go
Flooring specialists, Floors 2 Go, held their bearable branding for a year.
2005 – 2007 – PointBetGames.com / Kimmel Lager
Gambling company PointBetGames.com splashed their URL across the home and away shirt for two seasons. The branding of Kimmel Lager paraded the third jersey.
2004 – 2005 – Pricebusters
Pricebusters, one of Blackpool’s most famous bargain stores, used a text-based feature. They also sponsored the aforementioned 2003/04 Football League Trophy final shirt.
2003 – 2004 – Life Repair Group
Life Repair Group is a former claims management company. Their branding wasn’t complimentary.
2001 – 2003 – Electricity Direct
Independent electricity retailer, Electricity Direct, had a slightly creative text-based feature.
1997 – 2001 – Telewest
Telewest were internet and telephone suppliers. Once they left the white background feature in 1998/99, their branding was bearable.
1994 – 1997 – Rebecca's Jewellers
Southport-based jewellery shop, Rebecca’s Jewellers, made their whereabouts known within their feature. Albeit text-based, it was a strange look.
1991 – 1994 – Inenco
Business utility and sustainability consultancy, Inenco, had an all-text feature.
1990 – 1991 – Vaux
Vaux is a brewery born in Sunderland.
1988 – 1990 – Bass
Bass is a brewery that once produced one of the best-selling ales in the UK through their Pale Ale beer.
1986 – 1988 – Harry Feeney Autos
Harry Feeney Autos is a Blackpool-based car dealership which is now linked to Toyota.
1984 – 1986 – FH Brown
FH Brown was an office supplies firm.
1982 – 1983 – Pembroke Hotel
Pembroke Hotel is a five-star Blackpool-based bed and breakfast. Their feature included their five stars.
1979 – 1981 – Easywear
Clothing company, Easywear, specialised in manufacturing jeans. They were Blackpool’s first ever front of shirt partner.
Conclusion
Blackpool’s unique colouring paired with the iconic nature of the seaside town provides the opportunity to get creative with the jerseys. Thankfully, Puma are exploring this now, although not enough brands have done so over the years, despite flair within the late 80’s and 90’s.