Stoke City Shirt History
Stoke City’s nickname of ‘the Potters’ is inspired by Stoke-on-Trent’s famous pottery industry. Time for a look through the club’s kit manufacturing and sponsorship history…
Stoke City Kit History Checklist
Stoke City Kit Manufacturing History
2016 – present – Macron
After a steady first year, Stoke’s second season under Macron was much better with the brand providing a home top that captured attention with its blue applications to its neckline, sleeve cuffs and slim side panels. The two alternate jerseys that were used alongside it also had character, with their solid-coloured base featuring some kind of horizontal stripe block on its chest.
The away top from 2018/19 partnered two shades of purple and it paid homage to a famous strip that the club used during their 1992/93 second division title winning campaign. Also in 2018/19, a forest green goalkeeping jersey was in place to tribute Gordon Banks. Sadly, Banks passed away in February 2019 and to honour his life, for a one-off game against Aston Villa, Jack Butland, the Potters’ number one at the time, wore a plain jersey exactly like one Banks would have worn.
Macron had a positive year in 2020/21 with a rather appreciated home and away top. The home strip made use of red pinstripes in-between its thick red and white stripes, while the away jersey incorporated tonal patterning on its navy base, as well as yellow patterned sleeves.
The 2021/22 campaign celebrated the 50th anniversary of the clubs famous 1972 League Cup Final win. They honoured the landmark by releasing a special-edition jersey that was decorated with an old club crest and commemorative stitching. The stitching included the team sheet, the manager and the goal scorers. Each top was sold with its own unique number, a certificate of authenticity and a box that detailed their tournament run. As for the regular season jerseys from that year, it was the green and black pinstriped away top that caught the most eyes.
Macron struck a big hit in 2022/23 through a home top that included several small white sashes within its red stripes. The shirt also utilised black within it for the first time since 2006. Black was the primary colour of the 2022/23 away top which had the city’s coat of arms embossed. An impressive 70’s inspired sash style polo third strip was also released for this campaign.
A stylish home top and a funky geometrical print away shirt saw Stoke through 2023/24, but in 2024/25, Stoke are wearing their first central crest home jersey since 2002/03.
2015 – 2016 – New Balance
The red stripes coolly incorporating tonal pinstripes gave the New Balance home top an added edge. It was used alongside a black and green sashed away top, which merged both the 70’s and the 90’s.
2014 – 2015 – Warrior
Warrior is an American brand that now has focuses away from football. Warrior produced simplified jerseys, with the away top having the most noticeability with its navy sash running through its turquoise base.
2010 – 2014 – Adidas
The Adidas logo was central on all the Stoke home jerseys, except the one that was released in the pairs first season together. However, even then the placement wasn’t orthodox. It was a minimal era for home strips, with the detailed edges of the red stripes on the 2010/11 version providing the most flash.
The Potters also wore stripes away from home in 2011/12 and 2012/13. The former campaign saw blue and black combine, while an unusual maroon and navy pairing was on display in the latter season.
2007 – 2010 – Le Coq Sportif
In 2007/08, Stoke historically returned to England’s top flight of football for the first time since 1984/85. This means that, regardless of concept or design, that season’s collection will always be well loved.
Stoke’s first Premier League campaign saw them don a home kit that appeared to feature fewer stripes than usual. It boasted three large red ones on its front as opposed to multiple thinner ones.
The 2009/10 away top, which is a black polo collared jersey with small red and white touches, is also appreciated.
2003 – 2007 – Puma
The classy neckline of the 2004/05 home strip probably confirms its status as the best-looking Puma attempt. Quite similarly to the one worn in 2005/06, it also utilised fairly slim stripes.
A unique silver central crest alternate top, which also made use of black and red, was used between 2004 and 2006. Before this, an alternate look that combined navy and light blue was in place.
2001 – 2003 – Le Coq Sportif
An intriguing home shirt, which saw the Le Coq Sportif logo uniquely be part of the jersey’s neckline, was in place for both of these campaigns. Judging by its look, there was probably very few complaints.
The two alternate shirts that the French brand provided during this period were both fine, but also not overly exciting.
1993 – 2001 – Asics
Even though Asics’ first season included an away jersey that paired a purple base with white sleeves, it wasn’t a collection that entailed much extravagance, but that was to come…
In 1994/95, the home shirt saw several consecutive Stoke crests running down its red stripes. The shirt that followed it, and was used between 1995 and 1997, also made use of an imprint of the club emblem, but this time it was just one large one. The flare on these made the 1997 – 1999 version seem toned down, even though it had a stunning crossover polo collar. In their final home jersey attempt, Asics made use of a white colour block which ran through the front of shirt sponsorship area.
Unfortunately, the away jersey used in 1996/97 wasn’t that impressive at all – it had Stoke written diagonally across the stomach area. The 1997/98 version wasn’t much an improvement due to its unlikable high neck collar. It wasn’t all bad though with the pleasantness of away top worn in the pair’s final year together and the 1994 – 1996 green and navy striped kit saving the day.
1990 – 1993 – Matchwinner
Black was used fairly prominently on both of the home shirts that Matchwinner supplied during this period. Each of them had a standout black polo collar and they both also had black touches to their sleeves.
Personality wasn’t lacking in either of the two away jerseys that Matchwinner provided, with the first one, which was used between 1990 and 1992, being yellow with two black sashes running across it. It also had a black collar, black sleeve cuffs and tonal chevron patterning imprinted within its yellow base.
The second away shirt was alluded to earlier in the article as Macron have recently taken inspiration from it. It was used for Stoke’s aforementioned title winning campaign in 1992/93 and it was hooped two different shades of purple. Unorthodox hoops were what was opted for, with each of them having white zigzagged edges. To add to its funkiness, a few small yellow applications were also in place.
1989 – 1990 – Scoreline
Simple but traditional defined Scorelines one season stint. The home top was styled as you’d expect but with a polo collar, while the away top paired a black neckline with a yellow base. Each of them incorporated tonal pinstriping.
1987 – 1989 – Admiral
Admiral kept the same two shirts in place for both of these two seasons. They each had a crossover V-neck collar which provided a smart feel to them.
As well as having the Admiral logo running down its shoulders, the home top also incorporated red pinstripes between its thick red and white stripes. It looked quite similar to the 2020/21 home strip.
1986 – 1987 – Hi-Tec
Respectively, Hi-Tec didn’t provide too much excitement through their attempts. The most notable thing about the home top was that the sleeves were a solid red rather than striped. The away shirt matched a black neckline, black sleeves with a yellow tonally pinstriped base.
1975 – 1986 – Umbro
For the first two seasons Umbro continued the concept that their predecessors set in place. However, following this, Stoke wore the same Umbro designed home, away and third jersey up until the end of the 1982/83 campaign. The most striking thing about these was that they each had the Umbro logo flowing consecutively down their sleeves – a feature we now do not usually see the brand make use of.
A somewhat of a bold and brave move was opted for by the double diamond brand between 1983 and 1985. It was decided that the thick stripes would be ditched and they would be replaced by pinstripes. This saw the home top have solid red sleeves and red pinstripes to go with its white base. The red, which was also used within its neckline, seemed darker than usual. Stoke returned to a more traditional look in 1985/86.
A stunning navy and blue away strip, which followed the same concept as the 1983 – 1985 home kit, was released in 1983/84 and it remained an active jersey until the end of the partnership.
Interestingly, albeit outside of this period, Umbro were the brand to provide the Potters with their 1972 League Cup Final look, where Stoke made history by beating Chelsea 2-1.
1974 – 1975 – Admiral
The first brand to strike a manufacturing deal with Stoke City was Admiral. Throughout this year, Admiral provided a surprisingly modern white, black and red sash look, similar to the one used in 2022/23. The home top had a black collar and sleeve cuffs to go with its traditionally striped front.
Stoke City Shirt Sponsorship History
Compared to other clubs of their respective stature, the Potters currently have quite a slim front of shirt sponsorship history. Let’s find out who has featured…
2012 – present – Bet365
The Bet365 group became majority shareholders of Stoke City in 2006 and they only recently divested from the club. However, despite the official line being that the betting and gaming company is no longer involved, Bet365’s co-CEO John Coates is now the Potters’ ‘outright owner’.
Bet365’s feature on the jersey has always been simple and text-based and in 2016 they expanded their branding by securing the naming rights to the stadium.
1997 – 2012 – Britannia
Britannia is the clubs longest ever serving front of shirt sponsorship partner. The building society also secured the naming rights to Stoke’s stadium when this deal was struck in 1997 and, although the kit deal ended in 2012, this continued to run up until 2016.
Even though Britannia merged with the Co-operative Banking Group in 2009, the same text-based feature ran for the whole partnership. While it was pleasant, the only critique would be the use of a background.
1996 – 1997 – Asics
For one season during their manufacturing partnership, Asics also took up the front of shirt sponsorship feature, albeit only the home shirt made use of it.
1995 – 1996 – Broxap
Staffordshire-based street furniture providers, Broxap, held the slot with an all-text feature in 1995/96. Coolly, they became the club’s inaugural academy sponsor for 2023/24.
1993 – 1995 – Carling
Another text look came through Carling between 1993 and 1995. Carling’s website claims that they are the UK’s current number one lager brand.
1991 – 1993 – Ansells
Ansells is another ale brand. Their feature looked much better without the black background which was used in 1992/93.
1990 – 1991 – Fradley Homes
Construction firm, Fradley Homes, had a single season in the slot. They also used a black background.
1986 – 1990 – Cristal Tiles
Cristal Tiles presumably worked within the trade industry. They took up the feature following one sponsor-less season.
1981 – 1985 – Ricoh
Ricoh were the first brand to ever sponsor the front of a Stoke shirt. Ricoh is a Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company.
Conclusion
Luckily for Stoke supporters, they haven’t yet had to grin and bear an ugly shirt sponsor on the front of a jersey as all of their partners so far have opted for simple, minimal looks. Their shirt design history is bland in areas, but within it there are also some really solid strips. The 90’s Asics era is particularly intriguing.