Oxford United Shirt History
English clubs’ ban on competing in European competitions denied Oxford United of a spot in Europe following their League Cup success of 1986. Let’s find out more about the U’s by exploring their kit manufacturing and sponsorship history…
Oxford United Kit History Checklist
Oxford United Kit Manufacturing History
2022 – present – Macron
The 2022/23 campaign marked a positive start to this partnership with three solid opening jerseys. The home top was the highlight of three with its vibrant geometrical abstract navy print running throughout its sleeves – it also had a yellow base which was tonally filled with a similar pattern. It’s accompanying alternate looks were much more basic, although still attractive and positively received. The third strip was designed to resemble a smart polo top rather than a football strip and it saw Oxford’s ‘Dreaming Spires’ skyline displayed on its lower back.
The good form of Macron continued into the 2023/24 campaign, a year in which Oxford United ended their 25-year Championship absence. It was quite fitting that promotion was achieved in this campaign, given that the away top active throughout this season paid homage to their promotion winning efforts of 1995/96 and 2015/16 – it was vertically striped red and black. The past was also revisited via the home top, with a cool 80’s pinstripe look on show.
In 2024/25, the U’s and Macron have decided to ditch navy touches on home top and instead opt for a retro inspired all-yellow look. It is joined by a third top which caught eyes due to its purple and yellow colour palette – the club claims it chosen those colours after taking inspiration from ‘international sports’.
2018 – 2022 – Puma
Despite a pleasant home and away kit, Puma’s first campaign was met with controversy with the release of the club’s limited-edition 125th anniversary jersey. The orange shirt tributed the clubs founding name of Headington United and only 125 were made available to buy at the price of £75 – a price which angered the U’s supporters when they realised that you could buy a crest-less template of the same jersey for just £14 off Puma’s website.
Their Headington United routes were tributed again in 2020/21 through the regular seasons away top, but, unfortunately, there was no bespoke design in play this time either.
Puma did enjoy some success in 2019/20 however, with a home and away top that was quite well-appreciated. A subtle tonal graphic was embossed into the home top, while a conjoined yellow and navy sash was the star feature of the white away kit.
A steady end to this partnership was achieved with three lovely jerseys active throughout 2021/22 – the most striking of the three, by some distance, was a white third top which boasted a striking blue shaded pattern on its front.
2016 – 2018 – Starter
Starter had a mixed period as the U’s’ suppliers with ups and downs in both campaigns. In 2016/17, fans were initially delighted with a fantastic pinstriped home look, but their spirits were then dampened by the away strip.
The brand then made an odd decision to use the same template which was seen on the 2016/17 away top for the following year’s home look. Although, in yet another twist, supporters were then won over again with a simple, but effective, smart black and silver 2017/18 away outfit.
2015 – 2016 – In House
Oxford United tributed their 1986 League Cup win (then known as the Milk Cup) through the 2015/16 home top – it featured horizontal stripes in two shades of yellow.
Vertical red and black stripes paraded the away top in honour of the clubs third division promotion winning efforts in 1995/96. As already alluded to, the U’s fittingly achieved promotion to League One in this campaign.
2014 – 2015 – Avec
Avec used the same design on both the home and away top – they each had a single sleeve stripe, as well as a single base stripe which ran horizontally through the front of shirt sponsorship area.
The away kit turned some heads given it combined white and purple.
2009 – 2014 – Nike
The 2009/10 campaign was a historical Oxford United season with the club achieving promotion to the Football League – the jerseys used in that year will undoubtedly be forever loved.
Being honest, it is probably a good thing that some history is attached to this period with things on the design front being pretty bland.
Notably, like Avec, Nike had some fun with purple and white themselves in 2013/14.
2006 – 2009 – Carlotti
Carlotti didn’t make any extravagant moves throughout their time supplying for the club, but a pleasant, centralised club crest look was active on the home top for the first two campaigns.
The away kit used in 2006/07 utilised the same central feature, but it was ditched for a bland blue look for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 campaigns.
2001 – 2006 – TFG Sports
There wasn’t much funkiness ongoing throughout TFG Sports’ time but some of the jerseys were certainly smart – mostly down to their neckline.
The home top active between 2001 and 2003 exemplified this perfectly as it terrifically combined a polo and a V-neck. Although, the material used throughout the jerseys base almost made its yellowness come across as gold.
The 2002/03 campaign birthed arguably the best away strip of this period – with a classy navy look on show that featured a superb V-neck neckline and several white and yellow touches.
More smart V-neck looks came in the final campaign of this partnership, but a lovely, subtle crossover collar featured for two seasons prior to this.
1998 – 2001 – New Balance
New Balance kept the same basic home strip in place for the first two campaigns – it utilised a super thick neckline and two navy sleeve hoops.
A brilliant away kit joined it, although New Balance can’t take credit for that as it was carried over from the campaigns prior to this partnership…
Two similar mesh polo kits came in the final year of this deal – the home top was particularly good-looking.
1996 – 1998 – In-house
A brilliant grandad collared home top was in place for both of these campaigns. It’s neckline suitably featured navy, as well as yellow, and it went well with the slim navy hoop feature on its sleeves. Another eye-catching addition was that the clubs abbreviation was smartly stitched into the traditional kit manufacturing sponsorship area.
It was joined on both occasions by the same away top – it boasted a centralised club crest while combining white, navy and yellow.
1994 – 1996 – Manor Leisure
The first, and only, Manor Leisure home top eye-catchingly featured three silhouettes of the ox which can be seen in the club crest.
In the first year, it was joined only by a navy and red vertically striped away look, but in the second campaign this strip became the third top and a new intriguing grey away shirt was created.
As mentioned, this period is famous Oxford United’s 1995/96 Third Division promotion winning efforts.
1991 – 1994 – Matchwinner
Matchwinner won over a lot of supporters in the first two seasons with a home and away top that followed the same style. They each had a small stripe feature on its chest and it stemmed from the shoulder area. It may sound odd, but it was actually quite complimentary.
An outrageous combination of patterned jerseys came in 1993/94 and whether that was a good or bad decision will depend on your taste. In the club’s traditional colours, the home top only featured patterning on its sleeves, but the away kit saw an all-over combination of red, white and navy merging.
1989 – 1991- Scoreline
Two minimal looks were provided by Scoreline and they both paraded a hooped crossover crewneck neckline.
Noticeably, another feature was that each of the bases included a subtle tonal change.
1985 – 1989 – Umbro
The jerseys active throughout the first two seasons of this partnership will be forever remembered for that aforementioned historic Oxford United League Cup trophy win – they defeated QPR 3-0 in the final.
Success on the design front was enjoyed after this, as Umbro are the providers of one of the best-looking home tops in the U’s’ history. It had a base which combined different shades of yellow and white through various different widths of vertical stripes. A striking crossover navy and yellow V-neck collar completed the look.
A pleasant red away look was also housed in the final year of this partnership.
1982 – 1985 – Spal
Pinstripes were the theme of this partnership, but there was one anomaly in this given that a silver shirt, which paraded vertical tonal stripes, acted as an alternate strip from 1983.
1980 – 1982 – Adidas
These two campaigns saw two basic jerseys that boasted Adidas Originals branding.
1977 – 1980 – Admiral
Throughout this period, Oxford United wore classical polo collared shirts that saw the Admiral logo flowing down the sleeves consecutively.
1973 – 1977 – Umbro
Umbro were the first brand to manufacture for the U’s. Up until 1975, plain yellow was wore at home, after then vertical blue stripes were introduced.
Oxford United Kit Sponsorship History
Time to explore which brands have featured as Oxford United’s front of shirt sponsorship partner…
2024 – present – Baxi
Baxi boast a simple text-based feature. The firm specialises in the manufacturing of heating and hot water solutions.
2022 – 2024 – Bangkok Glass
Bangkok Glass is recognised as Thailand’s largest provider of glass and packaging, while also being one of the largest businesses in Asia.
Those unfamiliar with their branding would have been intrigued as only ‘BG’ appeared on the jersey.
2021 – 2022 – EB Charging
The logo of EB Charging, an electric vehicle charging specialist, appeared on the shirt for a season.
2020 – 2021 – Tourism Authority of Thailand
In a bid to promote tourism in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand utilised a feature which read ‘Amazing Thailand’ on the 2020/21 jerseys.
2018 – 2020 – Singha
Singha is a pale lager beer manufactured in Thailand. Their branding felt prestigious.
2015 – 2018 – Liontrust
Specialist fund management company, Liontrust, held a simplistic feature.
2014 – 2015 – Black 'n' Rounds / Isinglass Consulting
Black ‘n’ Rounds, who are Silverstone's resident tyre experts, sponsored the home top throughout 2014/15.
They were joined by independent and practical pensions advice firm, Isinglass Consulting, who took the away strip.
2013 – 2014 – Animalates / Isinglass Consulting
As well as 2014/15, Isinglass Consulting also spent the 2013/14 campaign on the away top.
Animalates sponsored the home top for this campaign with a striking all-text look. Animalates is an exercise program for kids combining Pilates, Yoga, Aerobics and Dance with an animal theme.
2010 – 2013 – Bridle
The logo of Bridle, an insurance company, appeared throughout this period. They are now part of Finch.
2001 – 2010 – Buildbase
Buildbase, who are now part of Huws Gray, specialised in supplying building materials. Their feature was underlined and text-based.
In 2009/10, Plumbase, the UK’s largest local plumbing supplier, was promoted.
2000 – 2001 – Domino
Domino was an internet web agency based in Oxford.
1991 – 2000 – Unipart
Unipart is an Oxfordshire-based logistics, supply chain, manufacturing and consultancy company. It is one of the largest privately owned companies in the United Kingdom.
1990 – 1991 – Pergamon Press
Pergamon Press is an Oxford-based publishing house. This partnership came after a period of no sponsorship.
1985 – 1989 – Wang
Wang was an American Computer company. They were acquired by Getronics, a Dutch company, in 1999.
1982 – 1985 – BPCC
BPCC was a British media business. BPCC stood for British Printing and Communications Corporation.
In 1987, their name changed to Maxwell Communication Corporation.
1981 – 1982 – Sunday Journal
News publication, Sunday Journal, was the first organisation to appear on the front of an Oxford United shirt – however, it is unclear how long they held the slot for.
Conclusion
The Oxford United jerseys of the 90’s and the early 2000’s hold plenty of intrigue, but the designs that came after this up until the Puma partnership were admittedly a little bit dry, barring the odd shirt. Under Puma, and now Macron, the U’s have experienced somewhat of a glow up with some former classics being revisited – but sometimes the originals are just better, right?