Bristol City Shirt History
Inspired by Preston North End, the initial name of Bristol City was in actual fact Bristol South End. Let’s explore the Robins’ kit manufacturing and sponsorship history…
Bristol City Shirt History Downloadable Checklist
Bristol City Kit Manufacturing History
2023 – present – O’Neills
The 80’s were revisited through O’Neills’ first attempt at a Bristol City home and third strip. While a classy, paired pinstripe look was in place on the home top, it was the yellow and green third kit which caught the most attention, and this was because the club crest was replaced by a free-flying robin for the first time in the club’s history. The away shirt that completed this collection also referred to the past, as its black base was superbly filled with an embossed ‘City’ logo which was first seen on a matchday programme from the 1974/75 season. Due to O’Neills’ predecessors experiencing distribution issues, this collection was actually released in February 2023 and was used for part of the 2022/23 campaign.
A fan-centred home look came in 2024/25 – it’s subtle tonal base patterning, its patterned neckline and its patterned sleeve cuffs were all inspired by flags that are seen around Ashton Gate on a gameday. It is active alongside an attractive away top which classily combines cream and burgundy. This campaigns black third kit includes a tonal print inspired by the graffiti culture and street art scene unique to Bristol.
2020 – 2023 – Hummel
Hummel introduced themselves to the Robins faithful brilliantly well with a fantastic home jersey which was released in tribute to the ‘Ashton Gate Eight’. The Ashton Gate Eight refers to 1982, an important point of Bristol City history, when eight players tore up their contracts in love of the club to save them from financial ruin. The 2020/21 away top also had its admirers, with its unusual combination of purple and lime green reminding supporters of their famous FA Cup third round win over Liverpool in 1994/95. A historic third look completed this collection, with it parading the names of the 5,435 supporters who chose the ‘Robins 2020 Legend’ option when deciding the fate of their season ticket during the COVID-19 outbreak which led to games being played behind closed doors.
Three centralised club crest looks came in 2021/22, as the home top boasted an eye-catching, but subtle, geometric pattern. The away top featured multicoloured uneven stripes inspired by Totterdown, an inner suburb of Bristol. A purple base with lime green pinstripes made up the third top.
The 2022/23 home strip paired a red base with a white polo collar and white sleeves, with the 1950’s being the inspiration. It was in place alongside a third shirt which was inspired by their nickname, with the black, orange and grey design referencing the plumage of a robin.
2014 – 2020 – Bristol Sport
In-house manufacturing under the name of ‘Bristol Sports’ supplied the designs for six seasons. The first collection wasn’t that attractive, but it has happy memories attached to it with the club winning the League One title and Football League Trophy while it was in place. The biggest issue that most had with this range was that the Bristol Sport logo looked a little large, albeit this was rectified for future seasons.
Following pleasantly designed jerseys in 2015/16 was a 2016/17 range that had much debate surrounding it with one particular feature. This feature was the fact that the home and away top saw #MakingBristolProud and #BristolCity imprinted around the collar bone area. Interestingly, the Robins shared the yellow and navy away kit with Bristol Rugby.
A classy crossover collar, plus spaced-out white pinstripes, made up an impressive home top in 2017/18, however, the regular jerseys released in the campaigns following this were sadly not all that exciting. This came with a tint of disappointment considering the 2019/20 season celebrated the club’s 125th birthday.
The special occasion was celebrated eventually, however, with a special-edition anniversary top later released and used for one game against Fulham. The design of the top saw a mash-up of many iconic Bristol City jerseys, as well as commemorative stitching.
2010 – 2014 – Adidas
Adidas had a steady four-year period as suppliers, even despite somewhat of a bold move being made via the 2012/13 home top. The striking aspect of this jersey was the fact that it unusually had a solid black colour block running on its chest and shoulders.
Flamboyance wasn’t really on show throughout this three-stipe period; however, the 2010/11 and 2013/14 campaigns did see relatively smart jerseys.
2006 – 2010 – Puma
Puma provided the Robins with simplified jerseys with little intrigue. Their most unattractive shirt was the 2006/07 home top, although, by the time that the jersey reached its expiry date it may have gained many admirers given that the club achieved Championship promotion while it was active.
2002 – 2006 – TFG Sports
A good start was made by TFG Sports, as Bristol City boasted a pleasant first range that featured quite obvious outlining throughout. Red and white was combined at home, while yellow and green was paired away.
In 2003/04, an eye-pleasing collection was released with each of the jerseys incorporating a centralised club crest. However, a limited-edition anniversary shirt, which was released to celebrate 100 years of playing at Ashton Gate, became the biggest talking point of that year. The shirt included all 762 names that played at the stadium for the Robins between 1904 and 2004. Only 1,000 were made.
TFG Sports enjoyed more design success through the 2004/05 away strip – one horizontal red stripe and one horizontal black stripe ran across the chest of its white base. Sadly, however, it was replaced by an eye-sore of a shirt, which combined a golden yellow and light blue, in 2005/06.
2000 – 2002 – Admiral
Two polo collared home jerseys were worn during this two-year Admiral stint and the first version appeared the classiest. The 2000/01 home look eye-catchingly saw Admiral logos flowing down its sleeves consecutively in a white colour block.
Admiral also provided a special cup kit when the Robins reached the 2000/01 Football League Trophy final, however it was an occasion that ended in defeat with Stoke City pipping Bristol City to the trophy. The shirt combined yellow, blue and white.
1998 – 2000 – Uhlsport
Uhlsport’s Bristol City home looks were simple, but smart, however none of them matched the 1999/00 third kit in terms of impressiveness. The jersey saw lime green paired with navy stripes which seemingly became washed towards their edges. White pinstripes were also active.
1996 – 1998 – Lotto
The first Lotto campaign celebrated the club’s centenary year and commemorative stitching was on display via the home and away top to honour the landmark. The 1996/97 campaign also housed an unorthodoxly patterned green and white third strip which was only ever worn twice and was never made commercially available – which is a shame, as the funkiness of it is definitely a hit for that period.
A much simpler third shirt was in place for 1997/98, but it still had a lot of admirers. The dark green look included tonal patterning, which the Lotto emblem was a part of, and a classy looking neckline.
Tonal patterning was also a showpiece feature on the home and away looks used throughout 1997/98, although another striking feature was their high crewneck neckline which the Lotto branding became part of. The Robins’ abbreviation was imprinted on to their right sleeve cuff.
1992 – 1996 – Nibor
Nibor were the first brand to provide the club with a flashy purple and lime green alternate look – a colour combination from which many brands have been inspired by over the years. The same away and third kit, which both used these colours in different formations, was active for the first three-years of this deal. Nibor eventually did ditch the combination to introduce an eyebrow raising black, green and red hooped look in 1995/96.
Two home shirts were provided by Nibor and each of them were used for two seasons. The first version catches the most immediate attention due the abstract nature of its tonal patterning.
1983 – 1992 – Bukta
Some brilliant retro designs were produced by Bukta during this lengthy partnership which fell just short of a decade. The brand introduced themselves with a brilliant home top which utilised a thick V-neck collar and tonal vertical stripes on its base. It was used alongside two pinstriped alternate looks, one combining white and black and another combining yellow and black.
Unbeknown to some, Bukta actually provided two home tops during their tenure that also utilised pinstripes, however one version was incredibly short-lived with it only being played in between August and December during the 1986/87 season. The other fabulously saw a paired pinstripe concept and was active between 1988 and 1990.
Another classic Bukta jersey is the away top which was used between 1990 and 1992. It was yellow with green vertical stripes which were made up by diaganol dashes.
1976 – 1983 – Lynx / Coffer Sports / Umbro
The Robins’ shirt history became a little unclear between 1981 and 1983, with Coffer Sports, Lynx and Umbro all believed to have had a crack at some point.
However, one thing that is clear is that Umbro were the first brand to ever strike a manufacturing partnership with the club and they did so with traditional looks between 1976 and 1981.
Bristol City Shirt Sponsorship History
Let’s see which shirts have featured on the front of the Robins’ shirt…
2022 – present – Huboo
Uniquely, Huboo currently sponsors all five professional sporting teams that make up ‘Bristol Sport’.
The E-Commerce fulfilment company use a simplistic feature with the inclusion of their box package logo.
2020 – 2022 – Mansion Bet
Mansion Bet saw their deal with the Robins cut short with the betting brand ceasing to trade in March 2022 to focus directly on their casino brands. The branding was fairly unappealing.
2018 – 2020 – Dunder
Dunder is an online casino company – they opted for a text-based look.
2016 – 2018 – Lancer Scott
Lancer Scott is a Bristol-based construction, development and property maintenance firm.
2014 – 2016 – RSG
RSG stands for Resource Solutions Group. They held a simplistic all-text feature.
2012 – 2014 – Blackthorn
West Country cider brand, Blackthorn, used an intriguing font on their underlined text-based feature which appeared for two-years.
2011 – 2012 – RSG / Bristol City Community Trust
RSG first sponsored Bristol City in 2011/12, although on this occasion they only took up the home kit.
The Bristol City Community Trust was promoted and highlighted on the away shirt.
2008 – 2011 – DAS
DAS provides justice and legal services for people who could not otherwise easily afford it. Their feature was their logo.
2005 – 2008 – Bristol Trade Centre
Bristol Trade Centre took up the slot for three campaigns. Their branding became much cleaner after the first year.
1999 – 2005 – DAS
Bristol City were no strangers to DAS by the time their spell begun in 2008/09, with the legal aid firm partnering with the club for six seasons from 1999/00.
1996 – 1999 – Sanderson
Sanderson is a Bristol-based computer recruitment company. They attempted three branding techniques in three seasons, with the second being the most unattractive and overpowering.
1994 – 1996 – Auto Windscreens
UK’s leading automotive glass repair and replacement company Auto Windscreens held a minimal feature for two-years.
1993 – 1994 – Blackthorn
The aforementioned Blackthorn promoted their dry cider product in 1993/94.
1990 – 1993 – Thorn Security
Thorn Security combined a small version of their logo with a text-based feature.
1982 – 1990 – Hirerite
With the same text-based feature, Hirerite held a lengthy spell as the Robins’ shirt sponsor. It is believed that Hirerite was a van rental firm.
1981 – 1982 – Park Furnishers
The first brand to sponsor the front of a Bristol City shirt was Park Furnishers. Unsurprisingly, they are furniture retailers.
Conclusion
Bristol City have some noticeable spells of blandness throughout their shirt design history, however, if you look specifically at the 80’s and the 90’s then there are some fantastic jerseys to take notice of. The ‘Hirerite’ era is a particularly sought-after period.