Millwall Shirt History
As one of the founding members of the Southern League in 1894, Millwall will feel somewhat responsible for the growth of football down south. Let’s look at their kit manufacturing and sponsorship history.
Millwall Shirt History - A4 Checklist
Millwall Kit Manufacturing History
2023 – present – Errea
Errea emerged as Millwall’s manufacturers with a stylish blue home strip which was littered with several diagonal blue and black lines. Making up part of the alternate collection that year was an equally as impressive away kit which combined a white base with tonal patterning and several gold features, including pinstripes. Completing the collection was a predominantly orange third kit, which also boasted tonal patterning, and it was believed to be inspired by a lion’s mane.
The 2024/25 home shirt has been extremely well-received because it combines elements of two retro jerseys which are fan favourites. Going by the tagline of ‘retro fusion’, it took inspiration from 1991/92 and 1992/93. The away shirt isn’t too bad either – its green base is decorated by their abbreviation, MW, with it being embossed several times.
2022 – 2023 – Hummel
Hummel executed placing an imprinted lion onto the front of the home jersey in 2022/23 rather well, but their work on the alternate jerseys also deserves appreciation.
Both alternate looks were quite vibrant, with the away version being the most eye-catching with its yellow base incorporating several red and black diagonal stripes across its front.
2018 – 2022 – Macron
Unusually, Millwall worked with Macron to dedicate their 2020/21 third strip to their front of shirt sponsor Huski Chocolate. It was red and white, and it included a mountain range graphic which paid tribute to the brands history and heritage.
Despite the interesting inspiration behind their third top, it probably isn’t the most striking shirt of that campaign with the green and white half and half shirt stealing the show. This jersey had a lovely pattern that merged the two colours running down its middle.
Going back to 2018/19, Macron dedicated their first attempt of a home top to the Den, given that campaign marked the 25th anniversary since they moved there. The shirt was a classy polo that took inspiration from the 1993/94 jersey. Two more relatively smart home jerseys came in 2020/21 and 2021/22, with the former probably being the nicest.
2016 – 2018 – Errea
The 2016/17 season saw Millwall boast thick white and blue stripes across the base of their home shirt, which was topped off with gold touches here and there. It wasn’t hideous, but it did feel rather ‘un-Millwall’ like.
Gold detailing continued in some form on the 2017/18 home strip, but it was more obvious on the black third kit. Both alternate shirts from this campaign were an improvement on the tonally hooped yellow one from 2016/17.
2010 – 2016 – Macron
Significance was added to the first Macron collection of this period through commemorative stitching acknowledging the clubs 125th anniversary. The honouring of the landmark didn’t stop there, with the club also releasing a special shirt that listed the name of every player to have represented the club up until that date.
Unique features were included on the 2013/14 collection, particularly their necklines, however, the classy vertical pinstripe look was intended to pay tribute to jerseys from previous years.
Macron and Millwall teamed up to release another special edition strip in 2014/15, with this one being classed as ‘extremely rare’. There were 1,500 released in total and it was named the ‘Headley Court Camo Shirt’, with all proceeds going to Headley Court Military Hospital.
2007 – 2010 – Bukta
When looking at this Bukta period, the 2008/09 third shirt immediately catches the eye. It was an orange polo look with Bukta logos flowing elegantly, but consecutively, down its sleeves.
In addition to the above, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons with it admittedly being borderline tacky, it is the 2009/10 home shirt that also catches the attention. It combined blue with several white elements and it had a large lion, which can be seen in the club crest, imprinted towards the left of the stomach area. The lion feature was also used on the away top, but it just seemed to fit in a little better with its red and black stripe effect.
Bukta also released a special edition top which was more about the message rather than design, with it being made with the purpose to promote the dangers of street violence.
2005 – 2007 – Lonsdale
The Lonsdale era isn’t the most exciting, even though they experimented with illuminous yellow on the 2005/06 away shirt. In the same campaign, Lonsdale made attempts to spice up the home top with it bringing together a couple of different shades of blue.
1999 – 2005 – Strikeforce
Most of the shirts from the Strikeforce period were fairly minimal, but it didn’t mean that there were no classy looks on show. However, the timeframe didn’t come without its controversies, given that Millwall donned a white home top for the first two seasons of the partnership – this hadn’t been done for many years prior to this, and it hasn’t been done since.
Despite the controversial white strip, the 2000/01 season did house a classic in the form of the smart navy away strip that had a lovely V-neck neckline which included amber. This campaign also saw Strikeforce release a shirt to commemorate the clubs 115th birthday.
Millwall followers will no doubt look back at 2003/04 with some fondness given their marvellous FA Cup run. The Lions managed to reach the final and, even though they were beaten to the trophy by Manchester United, it resulted in the clubs first ever shot at participation in the UEFA Cup. This means the whole of the 2003/04 collection will be remembered, but particularly the lovely vertically striped green and white away top.
1994 – 1999 – Asics
Millwall wore a brilliant home polo design that paired a blue base with white sleeves for the first years of this partnership – another key feature was the neckline, which was fantastically a different material to the base. It also had the word ‘lions’ printed on the right sleeve cuff.
From 1995-1997, the Lions wore a brilliant half and half green and white strip. In 1995/96, this shirt was joined by a grandad collared home strip which had a lion and ‘MFC’ imprinted on its stomach.
Tonal stripes were involved on the final home top of this period, but the away shirt that accompanied it in 1998/99 somewhat overpowered it for the wrong reasons. Asics’ branding relocated to its polo collar, and it had one navy and blue stripe feature flowing down the right of its yellow base.
1992 – 1994 – Bukta
Bukta produced the classic 1992/93 home strip which Errea has since took inspiration from. Other than its broken white stripe feature, it was the cool patterning within its collar and sleeves that really made it.
The home top from 1993/94 wasn’t bad either, with its classy white pinstripe feature catching the eye. Bukta chose to emboss their logo several times within the tops background. The away and third shirt followed the same concept.
1986 – 1992 – Spal
Tonal features were the story of the home shirts from this era, with the best of them being used from 1987 – 1989 and 1990 – 1992. The former incorporated diagonal stripes, while the latter paired a patterned polo collar with a stylish tonal chequered feature.
The 1987 – 1989 away top, which used the colours red, yellow and black, seemingly inspired the 2022/23 away top, albeit less flamboyant.
1985 – 1986 – Gimer
The colours used were the only things that changed between the home and away jerseys that Gimer provided. They both had a polo collar and one large horizontal colour block in its centre.
1980 – 1985 – Osca
Following a bland start, Osca introduced white pinstripes from 1983 onwards. In the final year, they decided to spice things up even further with the introduction of white sleeves. Millwall wore a red away top in every season.
1975 – 1980 – Bukta
With minimally designed jerseys, Bukta were the first brand to manufacture for the Lions.
Millwall Shirt Sponsorship History
Millwall have a lengthy list of front of shirt sponsors, so let’s get right into it…
2024 – present – MyGuava
MyGuava is a payments platform app produced by Guavapay. As part of the deal, Millwall supporters get the chance to win prizes and earn limited-edition cards via the app. Their feature, which combines their name and logo, isn’t at all overpowering.
2019 – 2024 – Huski Chocolate
Huski Chocolate, the brand behind the inspiration of their 2020/21 third strip, is a Swedish chocolate milk brand. Perhaps surprisingly, this deal seemingly didn’t end on positive terms with some reports suggesting the club has filed a lawsuit against the brand.
2017 – 2019 – DCS Roofing Contractors and TW Drainage
These two seasons saw one shirt sponsored by DCS Roofing Contractors, while the other paraded the branding of TW Drainage. Both trade sponsors were fine appearance wise, although TW Drainage had the tidiest feature.
2015 – 2017 – Wallis Teagen Building Contractors
Wallis Teagen Building Contractors is a building and maintenance firm based in the South East. Their two-year deal saw two different features, with the second being much more readable and concise.
2014 – 2015 – Euroferries Express
Transport business, Euroferries Express, opted for a text-based look that simply read ‘Euroferries’.
2013 – 2014 – Prostate Cancer UK
It is fantastic that Prostate Cancer UK received such exposure. As stated on their website, the charity’s top priority is funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men.
2011 – 2013 – Racing Plus
Racing Plus is seemingly a platform provided by Racing.Com that provides you with a live 24/7 broadcast of horse racing. The red used within the branding made it a little unappealing.
2008 – 2011 – CYC
Logistics and distribution are what the 2008-2011 sponsor, CYC, specialise within. They opted for their logo on each jersey, barring the 2010/11 away kit where they instead encouraged people to visit their URL. For some reason, Bukta Sportswear seemed to sponsor the 2008/09 third top instead of CYC.
2006 – 2008 – Oppida
Oppida is a learning design company whose branding, because of the colouring, complimented Millwall well.
2004 – 2006 – Beko
Recognisable Turkish white goods and electronics brand, Beko, had a basic all-text feature.
2003 – 2004 – Ryman
Ryman specialise within stationary retail, and they chose a red text-based look.
2001 – 2003 – 24Seven
The Lions were sponsored by 24Seven, a utility network operator, for two seasons. Their feature unfortunately looked a little tacky.
1999 – 2001 – Giorgio
Fashion company, Giorgio, understood the assignment with a minimal text-based feature in a classy, stylish font.
1997 – 1999 – L!VE TV
Closed British television station, L!VE TV, used the slot to promote the fact that you could watch the weather predicted in Norwegian, but with a twist, via their channel. It wasn’t great.
1996 – 1997 – South London Press
Weekly newspaper, South London Press, took the slot for a single season.
1993 – 1996 – Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan produces flavoured rum. Once they removed the background used in 1993/94, their all-text feature improved tenfold.
1991 – 1993 – Fairview
Fairview specialises in helping people purchase new build homes. Their first text-based feature tried to squeeze a little too much in, but their second was executed well.
1987 – 1991 – Lewisham Council
The crown logo of Lewisham Council appeared from 1987 until 1991. The logo was imprinted soundly next to the word Lewisham.
1985 – 1987 – London Docklands
London Docklands is the riverfront and former docks in London – one was in Millwall. They were the second brand to sponsor the Lions.
1983 – 1985 – LDDC
Prior to London Docklands, it was LDDC, their development cooperation, that sponsored Millwall first with a simple all-text introduction.
Conclusion
Much to their credit, Millwall are one of a few clubs that hasn’t been sponsored by any gambling brands yet. Their shirt design history fluctuates between bland and interesting and, although there have been some disappointing efforts, they have seemed to have avoided completely disastrous designs up until now (August 2024).