Peterborough United Shirt History

Following the collapse of Peterborough and Fletton United, Peterborough United were formed, however, one thing remained from the PFU days and that is their nickname of the ‘The Posh’ – one that infamously caught on when the PFU manager used the word to emphasise his wish to sign ‘good’ players. Let’s learn more about the Posh via their kit manufacturing and front of shirt sponsorship history…

Peterborough United Shirt Collectors Checklist

Peterborough United Kit Manufacturing History

2020 – present – Puma

This Puma partnership has birthed many pleasant-looking jerseys for the East Anglian club, but there are two campaigns in particular that will have a special place in Peterborough hearts.

The first one is the 2020/21 collection and this is because in that campaign the Posh ended their 8 season stay in League One by earning promotion to the Championship. The second of which is the 2023/24 EFL Trophy winning collection – Peterborough defeated Wycombe Wanderers in the final at Wembley.

Throughout this spell so far, Puma have avoided disasters, but there are a few shirts that standout more than others for good reason. One is the 2021/22 away top, two more are the two alternate strips used in 2022/23 and a third is the 2023/24 third kit.

For 2024/25, Peterborough are donning a home top tributing its East Anglian routes and an intriguing third strip inspired by a ‘Miami Vice’ colour scheme.

2011 – 2020 – Nike

Like most of the designs used throughout this period, the historic all-black kit which Peterborough used in their League One play-off final in May 2011 is pretty basic, but as the match was won it’ll forever be appreciated – Darren Ferguson saw his side promoted at Old Trafford, coincidentally the home of the club which his father, Sir Alex, managed at the time.

With the Posh’ home shirt, Nike only got as playful as a vertical white stripe in 2013/14 and a chest-band feature in 2014/15, however, it must be mentioned that on occasions the club would wear rare, but important, variants of their home strip to raise awareness of the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice – fans would have opportunities to bid on player-worn versions.

Despite the blandness of this period, Nike did capture some attention with their alternate kit colour choice. On occasions, pink, red or illuminous yellow was on show, but the standout jersey was the intriguing black and purple look used in the final year. A less exciting, but smart, white and gold strip came before it.

2008 – 2011 – Adidas

Similarly to the above Nike period, there isn’t much inspiration to be taken from this Adidas stint on the design front.

Adidas provided the club with the same home top for the first two-years of this deal and, on both occasions, it was joined by a third top parading a lovely tone of green.

In 2009/10, Adidas supplied an Argentina-like light blue and white vertically striped away top which tributed the clubs past. The three-stripe brand did the same for 2010/11 but with a few subtle changes, for example the club crest was moved away from its centre and put back in a more traditional slot.

Shirts paying homage to the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice were also used within this period.

2007 – 2008 – Tempest

Albeit this time from League Two, the 2007/08 campaign was yet another promotion winning season for the Posh.

They went up while wearing a home top boasting a centralised club crest and two shades of blue – uniquely, the Tempest branding was placed on its sleeves. The red third kit also boasted a centralised club crest, but the black and grey away strip was more traditional.

2006 – 2007 – Diadora

The Diadora campaign saw three strips all following the same concept. They each had a stripe feature on their left shoulder and a centralised club crest.

2003 – 2006 – Admiral

Three minimal, but clean collections were in use across this three-year partnership.

In comparison to the 2004/05 home strip, which boasted prominent white sleeves, the 2003/04 and 2005/06 home looks noticeably utilised quite a minimal amount of white.

They did, however, all feature a crewneck neckline, while two out of the three alternate strips paraded classy V-neck crossover collaring.

2002 – 2003 – Goal

Goal only supplied Peterborough for one campaign but they certainly left their mark with a classic orange away top – it boasted a striking V-neck neckline coated in white, black and orange.

Albeit not ugly, it’s accompanying polo home top was unfortunately much less impressive.

2001 – 2002 – In-House

The 2001/02 campaign was spent with in-house manufacturing and it saw the lovely lime green away strip released for the previous year remain active.

The home kit wasn’t without its admirers either and it boasted a club crest which was centralised and a thick V-neck neckline made up of blue and black. The chest and sleeves of the jersey were made white before it broke into a traditional solid blue in its lower half.

1999 – 2001 – Soke

Soke followed up a pretty minimal first year with the club by ensuring that their presence was unmissable throughout the 2000/01 collection – both the home and away top saw the company’s branding embossed into its background, but admittedly not in an unattractive manner.

As aforementioned, the away shirt was predominantly green, but it did have sleeves incorporating white and black. The home top was an impressive V-neck look making use of blue, white and black in differing amounts.

The 2000/01 collection isn’t only loved for its appearance, but also because the Posh were promoted to League One in that campaign after winning a Play-Off Final against Darlington.

1996 – 1999 – Patrick

Patrick’s introduction included a home top that boasted a neckline combining a V-neck and a polo while also having the Peterborough emblem embossed throughout its base several times.

The 1996/97 home look was active for two seasons, although it was eventually replaced by a classy successor for 1998/99. The jersey used throughout 1998/99 paraded another striking polo neckline, but a much cleaner base incorporating a white horizontal stripe feature around the front of shirt sponsorship area.

Across this period, Patrick opted for white or red on the alternate kits, with the 1996/97 set parading the most elegant feature with its neckline stitching reading the clubs abbreviation.

1992 – 1996 – In-House

This four-year period of in-house design started steadily, but the respectable 1992 – 1994 away shirt, which was green and tonally patterned, did give us a slight taste of the more intriguing designs that were to come.

From 1993/94, for two seasons the Posh wore an eye-catching home shirt which featured a boastful abstract tonal print. The clubs abbreviation, which was stitched into the shirts centre, placed just below its thick white neckline, also captured attention.

The succeeding home jersey for 1995/96 was arguably more striking however, given its constant imprint of the Posh’ emblem. Furthermore, the 1995/96 look also had a centralised club crest and a classy crossover collar featuring white and blue, which matched its sleeves.

A collectors item of an away top was released in 1993/94 and many supporters are believed to be desperate to see somewhat of a return of it. Nicknamed the ‘pizza shirt’, the jersey was red with a unique all-over pattern resembling pizza toppings and it utilised purple, green and yellow. Like the 1993 – 1995 home kit, it also included chest stitching of ‘P.U.F.C’.

1990 – 1992 – Ribero

The flamboyance on show across the period of in-house design didn’t begin in the Ribero era, however that is not to say that the shirts were boring.

For example, the 1990/91 home top did parade its own tonally patterned base and it has since influenced Puma in their design of the 2021/22 home top. Regardless of design, the 1990/91 collection will always have Peterborough history etched in to it given that the club achieved promotion to League One while using it.

The 1991/92 home and third strips both boasted a smart polo neckline and minimal wavy tonal patterning. The colour of the third kit was red.

1988 – 1990 – Scoreline

Both of these seasons saw the same Scoreline home top and it incorporated a lovely crossover neckline combining red, white and blue. It also had a smart tonally pinstriped base.

The away kit followed suit utilising yellow and navy, but the second campaign did see it with a slight alteration to its neckline.

1986 – 1988 – Henson

The same concept was followed on both the home and away looks used in Henson’s first year – they each had a V-neck neckline, tonal stripes, striped sleeve cuffs and a stripe feature on the shoulders.

Red was prominently in use on the 1986/87 home top; however, it had no inclusion on the minimal 1987/88 version.

1983 – 1986 – Patrick

A different approach was in force by Patrick across this three-year-period and their branding was interestingly placed on the jerseys’ sleeves.

For two campaigns, the front of shirt sponsor also uniquely ran vertically rather than horizontally.

1982 – 1983 – In-house

The Posh spent 1982/83 with simplified jerseys provided by in-house manufacturing.

1975 – 1982 – Umbro

Umbro were the first brand to strike a manufacturing deal with the club and, considering the era, they actually provided decent looking jerseys.

Their first collection had a centralised club crest, while from 1977 – 1979 those Argentina-like light blue and white stripes were in play at home.

Peterborough United Sponsorship History

Time to see who has appeared as the Posh’ front of shirt sponsor…

2014 – present – Mick George

Mick George is the clubs current long-term front of shirt sponsor and they are specialists in waste management.

Their feature has including various marketing techniques, but it has always looked approvable once they ditched the yellow from 2017/18 onwards.

2013 – 2014 – Stadium Energy

Stadium Energy is an energy saving firm which offers UK Stadia the opportunity to reduce their electricity costs.

2011 – 2013 – Energy Park Peterborough

Energy Park Peterborough is a proposed 81MW biopower project. This partnership could be classed as controversial due to MP’s criticism of the project.

2010 – 2011 – ThePosh.com

Peterborough displayed the URL of their website throughout 2010/11.

2007 – 2010 – MRI Overseas Property

MRI Overseas Property aids people in buying and selling property abroad. Again, once yellow was ditched in 2008/09 their branding was fine.

2006 – 2007 – Haart

Estate agency, Haart, utilised golden text-based branding which was quite complimentary.

2004 – 2006 – Hotpoint

Domestic appliance manufacturers, Hotpoint, held a minimal feature for two-years.

2003 – 2004 – Van Asten Logistics

The Posh’ partnership with Van Asten Logistics ended early and it left the club with financial troubles. As a result, Peterborough were forced to release two players.

1999 – 2002 – The Posh

‘The Posh’ was simply written in the slot for three seasons. Peterborough wore a sponsor free shirt for a year after this.

1992 – 1999 – Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook is an iconic travel company and they featured in the slot for most of the 90’s. The feature improved tenfold once the red background was completely removed in 1996/97.

As a show of good faith, when Thomas Cook ceased in 2019, Peterborough ran a couple of initiatives, such as free tickets and football fun days, for the staff and some affected customers.

1988 – 1992 – Perkins

Perkins is a Peterborough-based firm that primarily manufactures diesel engines. They held a complimentary feature.

1987 – 1988 – Wells Ales

Wells Ales is a brewery – they opted for a text-based feature.

1986 – 1987 – Fairview

Unfortunately, we are unable to pinpoint exactly what Fairview specialised in, although it is believed to be property.

1981 – 1986 – SodaStream

SodaStream was the first company to strike a front of shirt sponsorship deal with the club – they are best known for manufacturing soda machines and the firm used to have a factory in Peterborough.

They opted for various eye-catching features, from slick fonts to branding which ran vertically.

Conclusion

The standout era of Peterborough’s shirt history so far is their 90’s spell of in-house branding – it makes it even more fitting that the iconic Thomas Cook was their front of shirt sponsor at the time. They have avoided disaster designs but have experienced a number of bland spells.