Rotherham United Shirt History
Rotherham United is a relatively young football club having only been formed in 1925 – this came as a result of an in-city merger between Rotherham County and Rotherham Town. Let’s read about the Millers’ kit manufacturing and sponsorship history.
Rotherham United Shirt History A4 Checklist
Rotherham United Kit Manufacturer History
2011 – present – Puma
The home top worn in the second season of this partnership has history behind it with it signifying an important point in the Millers’ journey. Financial issues, which ultimately led to stadium issues, resulted in Rotherham playing their home games outside of the town between 2008 and 2012, therefore, to celebrate their move back into their area of origin in 2012/13, the then home strip included the Rotherham Coat of Arms. They moved into a new stadium that came at a good time, as when the club left Rotherham in 2008, the Football League threatened expulsion if they didn’t return within four years. The kit remained active for 2013/14.
Both the home and away top that was place for 2014/15 rocked a fantastic grandad collared neckline which provided them with a classy feel. The home top was the traditional colours of red and white and the predominately white away top featured touches of black and red.
Unfortunately, the 2016/17 home kit, which played with touches of yellow, wasn’t all that appealing, but the blue and black away look donned alongside it did have its admirers. Two more striking alternate designs came in 2017/18 and 2018/19, albeit this was mostly because of their colour combination. The former saw white paired with purple, while the latter saw a yellow base pieced with light blue sleeves.
From 2020/21 onwards, Puma started to flex more of their creative muscle with some intriguing designs being utilised from there on in. The home strip used throughout 2020/21 saw ‘The Millers’ brilliantly tonally embossed into its background several times in the shape of mill sails – this was in reference to their crest. It was active alongside an eye-pleasing away top which was inspired by 1994 – it saw a white base filled with black and red alternating pinstripes. Puma have again referred to the windmill in 2024/25.
In 2021/22, Rotherham were provided with another 90’s inspired away top and a home shirt which included white pinstripes, however, this time it was the third shirt which immediately catches attention. Puma and Rotherham designed it together to mark their 10th anniversary in partnership and it was black with multicoloured diaganol pinstripes. Each stripe represented a colour used on a Millers’ away look since 2011.
The Millers celebrated their 10th season at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2022/23 and the landmark was marked through a home strip which included tonal patterning which represented its architecture. The commemorations continued in 2023/24, with that season’s home top including a tonal silhouette of its floodlights.
The 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns also housed some fantastic alternate looks and the best arguably came in the latter mentioned season through a black and grey look which incorporated zigzagged diaganol stripes. Two brave third jerseys came within this period, with a splatter-pattern on show in 2022/23 and lilac and white combining in 2023/24.
2008 – 2011 – Carlotti
For the first two seasons of this partnership a pleasant home look, which boasted a centralised club crest and large white features on its sides and sleeves, was on show. Although the away top in the first season followed the same concept in yellow and black, it was ditched for a simplistic blue design in 2009/10.
Albeit the neckline cooly halved white and red, the 2010/11 home shirt wasn’t as good as the 2008 – 2010 version.
2006 – 2008 – Crest
The home top which Crest produced unfortunately wasn’t that eye-pleasing and it was active for both seasons. It’s base saw white used in quite a prominent fashion, as it ran on its sleeves, sides and within the lower half of its base. Golden outlines were in place on parts where the red and white merged. The golden outline was also part of the alternate designs.
2005 – 2006 – Nike
Nike played it safe for their year with the Millers, as the club wore a minimal home top and a vertically striped black and white away strip.
1998 – 2005 – Bodyline
Bodyline’s first attempt at a home top was in place for two seasons and it brilliantly saw the club crest and its abbreviation tonally imprinted throughout its base. Its sleeves had ‘Miller Sportswear’ graphics flowing down them and they alternated from black to red. The away top followed the same design brief in white.
A bold move was made on the 2000 – 2002 home shirt, as its front boasted more white than red. It also saw a number of black touches in place. It was a risk, but one that paid off.
The home top which came in 2002/03 reverted to a more traditional look, albeit equally as classy. It was joined by black and blue vertical stripes on the away top.
1995 – 1998 – Le Coq Sportif
A classical Rotherham United jersey was provided by Le Coq Sportif with it being worn for their 1996 Football League Trophy win at Wembley. It had a striking base which saw the club crest placed centrally and crossing white pinstripes throughout. The jersey also saw the ‘RUFC’ vertically stitched into one of its sleeves.
The second collection which the French brand provided remained in place for the final two seasons and chequers became the main theme. Tonal chequers were imprinted throughout the red base of the home top to go with the black and red chequers which looped around its white sleeves and that sat within a neckline that combined a polo and a crossover V-neck. The away kit accompanying it saw navy and silver vertical stripes and a chequered feature within its collar.
1991 – 1995 – Matchwinner
The Millers donned a home strip which included a minimal amount of white for the first two seasons of this partnership – its only appearance came through a hoop which looped around its polo neckline. A spiral-like tonal pattern saved the jersey from blandness. An intriguing away top which saw navy and white diagonal stripes combine was used away.
The second home top of this period remained active for the remainder of this partnership and it saw a reintroduction of more prominent white aspects. It also included tonal touches in the format of different sized chevrons.
Matchwinner provided an interesting yellow and black away top in 1993/94 that seemingly inspired an away look produced by Puma for 2022/23. A Rotherham classic, which saw a white base incorporate navy and red broken stripes, replaced this jersey in 1994/95.
1988 – 1991 – Bukta
Bukta’s most intriguing effort came through the 1990/91 away strip – it was quite abstractly patterned while combining different tones of grey. It also featured a red neckline. Puma have taken inspiration from this jersey during their time.
Two home jerseys were supplied during this period, with classical pinstripes appearing on the first version.
1986 – 1988 – Spal
Minimal would best describe this Spal period, with tonal stripes being the main feature on all but one jersey. The one shirt that didn’t see tonal stripes saw a yellow base paired with blue pinstripes.
1982 – 1986 – Patrick
Patrick opted to keep the same jerseys in place for the whole of this period. Each shirt followed the same concept of having a centralised club crest with a large ‘R’ and a ‘U’ either side of it. The old-school neckline was fantastic.
1980 – 1982 – Hobott
Hobott were the first brand to manufacture for the Millers. Rotherham wore a classy V-neck concept in the first year, but it was ditched and replaced by a polo neckline in the second season.
Rotherham United Kit Sponsorship History
Let’s explore which brands have appeared on the front of the Millers’ shirt…
2024 – present – Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice
An innovative deal has been in place for the last two seasons which sees a group of businesses come together as ‘Diamond Partners’ and pledge their support to charities.
Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice are the beneficiaries of this for 2024/25.
2023 – 2024 – Rotherham Hospice
Rotherham Hospice were the beneficiaries of the ‘Diamond Partners’ deal in 2023/24.
2022 – 2023 – IPM Group / Asura
Two business appeared in 2022/23, with the IPM Group, a facilities management and security service, taking the home top and Asura, a software firm, taking the alternate shirts. Both features were simple.
2021 – 2022 – IPM Group / inteliPod
IPM Group also appeared on the home strip in 2021/22 and, on this occasion, they were also linked to the alternate looks with inteliPod, their access management sub brand, appearing on those.
2020 – 2021 – Embark
Embark had a text-based feature. They are a leading provider of investment and pension-related services.
2019 – 2020 – Embark / Mears
Embark were part of 2019/20 too, but this time they only took the home strip. It was the less-attractive branding of Mears, a house solution provider, that held the alternate looks.
2017 – 2019 – Hodge Clemco / Mears
By the time Embark came around, Rotherham fans were already familiar with the branding of Mears as they held the alternate jerseys since 2017/18.
Hodge Clemco, a supplier of surface preparation and finishing equipment, sponsored the home top with an all-text look.
2016 – 2017 – Hodge Clemco / Apogee Corporation
Hodge Clemco begun their partnership with the Millers in 2016/17.
Apogee Corporation, who provides managed workplace, managed print and managed IT services with Europe's largest multi-brand solution, took up the alternate strips.
2015 – 2016 – Parkgate Shopping Centre / Balreed
Parkgate Shopping Centre, which is based in Rotherham, sponsored the home top in 2015/16 but this was the final campaign of a lengthy stint.
Balreed, a document and print technology firm, sponsored the alternate kits and this built on the pairs existing relationship. Balreed previously appeared on the AESSEAL New York Stadium scoreboard.
2014 – 2015 – Parkgate Shopping Centre / Shedlands
Sponsoring the jerseys alongside Parkgate Shopping Centre for this campaign was Shedlands. Shedlands is a Rotherham-founded timber garden buildings manufacturing firm – their logo was shirt-complementary.
2013 – 2014 – Parkgate Shopping Centre / TGB Sheds
TGB Sheds joined Parkgate Shopping Centre in 2013/14. TGB Sheds is a competitor of Shedlands, however their branding wasn’t as pleasing.
2011 – 2013 – Parkgate Shopping Centre / Rotherham – One Town, One Community
Rotherham Council agreed to parade their ‘One Town, One Community’ message on the alternate shirts during these two seasons.
2009 – 2011 – Parkgate Shopping Centre / Sport Identity
Sport Identity, a media representation services, appeared on the alternate jerseys throughout this period.
2007 – 2009 - Parkgate Shopping Centre / Redtooth
This was the beginning of this lengthy, continuous period of Parkgate Shopping Centre’s branding appearing on the home top, but their story with the Millers goes back even further…
Redtooth, a supplier of entertainment to the licensed trade, held their distinctive branding on the alternate kits. The brand was founded by a Rotherham-based businessman.
2005 – 2007 – Rosehill Press
Rotherham print firm, Rosehill Press, used two complimentary features during this two-year partnership.
2003 – 2005 – Earth Finance
Mortgage packager, Earth Finance, used two text-based features. Their expertise was clearly portrayed with the second…
1998 – 2003 – One 2 One / T-Mobile
The recognisable branding of T-Mobile appeared for a season, but this was a continuation from when the mobile telecommunications company was known as One2One. The change of name definitely brought better branding…
1987 – 1998 – Parkgate Shopping Centre
Parkgate Shopping Centre’s long-standing relationship with the Millers begun way back in 1987.
1982 – 1986 – Patrick
Patrick, who manufactured the jerseys at the time, became the clubs first ever front of shirt sponsorship deal in 1982. During this period, the Millers had a short stint with Top Score, however the brand went bust mid partnership…
Conclusion
Rotherham have started to see more interesting jerseys since 2020/21, but prior to then you have to go back to the early 2000’s and the 90’s to see some true creativity. Although, despite the blandness, the Millers have avoided complete shockers with most of the jerseys being relatively pleasant.