Swindon Town Shirt History
The red of Swindon Town’s kit ultimately led to their nickname of ‘The Robins’. Let’s delve more into the history of the Swindon shirt by looking through their kit manufacturing and sponsorship history.
Swindon Town Shirt History Checklist
Swindon Town Kit Manufacturing History
2024 – present – Adidas
Having partnered with the Robins twice before, Adidas are no strangers to the club. For the 2024/25 campaign, the three-stripe brand have provided a clean red home strip which incorporates a tonal V-shaped pattern, a cool mint green away look, which is believed to be a modern template of the Netherlands’ Euro 88 shirt, and a striking third top which combines black with pink pinstripes.
2015 – 2024 – Puma
One of the most memorable campaigns of Puma’s nine season stint is the 2019/20 season, where the Robins picked up the League Two title. During this campaign Swindon wore a grey away kit for the first time in their history, but the most special outfit was their third kit. The striking purple look was released in support of The Darby-Rimmer MND Foundation – which seeks to raise money to fight motor-neurone disease. The foundation was set up by former Swindon Town player, Stephen Darby, and Chris Rimmer, an ex-serviceman, who have both been diagnosed with the disease. Although the jersey was not made available for supporters to buy, all match-worn editions were auctioned off with the proceeds going to the The Darby-Rimmer MND Foundation.
Puma provided relatively pleasant designs prior to the aforementioned season, although there were two notable standouts. The first was the brands first attempt at a Swindon away strip, which classily combined black, white and gold. The second was brilliantly chequered green and white, and this jersey, which seemingly took inspiration from the 90’s, was used in 2017/18.
The 2021/22 campaign saw a well-appreciated collection, with more 90’s vibes being portrayed within the home and away strip. The home top boasted white pinstripes which entailed a slight twist with their small diamond effect, while the away strip was yellow and green in reference to the colours used during their famous 1993/94 Premier League campaign. A ‘blacked out’ third jersey was also in place – the marketing behind this was that it was a nod to a brighter future, given their then recent takeover.
The club’s iconic one-season Premier League stay was also referred to throughout 2022/23 via the home top. It included a tonal swirl similar to the one that featured on the home shirt for the 1993/94 campaign. Another striking touch was that the secondary colour in place was black rather than white. This seasons third top was also retro-inspired – it included an eye-catching zigzag like pattern in white and green.
Puma’s final home top received an uncertain verdict, as the tonal imprint was inspired by the town’s famous ‘magic roundabout’. However, it was used alongside a fabulous away look which was navy and gold and filled with plenty of class. It had a superb neckline, broken diaganol pinstriping and tonal touches.
2009 – 2015 – Adidas
Swindon supporters would have made plenty of memories while their team played in Adidas jerseys, given they had three tripes to Wembley and League Two title to experience.
A pleasant concept was in place for the first season of this era, as a look that paraded two curved colour blocks, which stemmed from the neckline and lower trim, was on display on both the home and away top. A curved colour block also featured on the 2010/11 concept. Red and white was paired at home and blue and white was paired away in both campaigns.
The Robins went from a favoured black away strip, which included touches of red, in 2011/12, to a boastful blue and yellow combo in 2012/13. However, the most striking alternate design is arguably the purple and black look from 2014/15 – whether that’s for good or bad, you decide.
Adidas produced fairly minimal home looks throughout this period, however the 2013/14 version did hold some intrigue with its uneven white colour block running on its chest – its sleeves saw plenty of white too.
2007 – 2009 – Lotto
Lotto released two collections that saw the same design brief run on each jersey. The first set included a centralised club crest with spaced-out triangular colour blocks all pointing inwards – in truth, it was pretty random and unimpressive.
The second collection, albeit basic, was much more pleasant with it simply boasting side panelling and shoulder colour blocks. The away kit from this season was an anomaly, with it being the only jersey from this whole period that combined more than two colours.
2005 – 2007 – Lonsdale
In 2006/07, Lonsdale had the honour of commemorating the club’s 125th anniversary, however, being honest, they could have put a little bit more effort into doing so. Like some earlier jerseys, the home top boasted green, while commemorative stitching honouring the landmark, plus a centralised club crest, was in place on both jerseys.
Although it left a little to be desired, the 2006/07 collection was at least bearable, the same shouldn’t be said about the white 2005/06 away strip…
2003 – 2005 – Strikeforce
With the classy crossover crewneck neckline which featured on the home strip, and the striking away look which combined black and gold via vertical stripes, the first Strikeforce collection was filled with much promise. However, unfortunately, the brand was unable to build on these kits as those that succeeded it in 2004/05 were underwhelming to say the least.
2002 – 2003 – DGI
DGI provided a couple of solid efforts during their single season as suppliers. The jerseys both followed the same design brief, with the ‘x factor’ feature being their split polo neckline. They both combined red, black and white, but in different formations.
2000 – 2002 – Xara
The same home and away kit was in place for both of these seasons, but a minimal white and red third look was also introduced for the second.
It was the home top which was the classiest shirt, and this was mostly down to the striking small red dash feature within its white polo collar and sleeve cuffs.
1999 – 2000 – Lotto
This Lotto campaign included two designs which saw a central club crest, with the home top being considerably striking considering it was quite minimal.
Both jerseys featured the same lovely looking neckline, but the away top had slightly more going on with it combining two shades of blue, plus red.
1995 – 1999 – Mizuno
Success on the field has resulted in the 1995 – 1997 collection being quite memorable for the Robins, with the club winning the then Division Two title. The 1996/97 season held a special-edition third strip to celebrate the aforementioned achievement – it was light blue and it saw ‘Division 2 Champions’, plus the club crest, embossed multiple times.
Each of the regular shirts used between 1995 and 1997 also hold their own intrigue. The home top featured a high crewneck collar with the club’s abbreviation stitched into its centre, while the away strip saw blue and black in a halved concept. The Swindon crest was imprinted into the background of both of jerseys in some capacity.
Another superb home look was donned between 1997 and 1999 – the features which made it particularly stand out were its patterned crossover polo collar and patterned sleeve cuffs – the colours that were combined were red, white and green. It’s accompanying blue and black striped away strip also had its admirers.
1993 – 1995 – Loki
Loki kept the same jerseys in place for both seasons and it is a collection which holds plenty of prestige given it was worn for Swindon Town’s season-long Premier League appearance.
Both the home and away jersey saw tonal patterning in place, with the away strip being super striking with it combining yellow and green. There was another alternate look also active and it saw red pinstripes on a white base. As alluded to, brands have taken inspiration from this iconic Robins period over the years.
1991 – 1993 – Diamond Leisure
The away top stole the show during this Diamond Leisure period and it fantastically combined green and white in quite an abstract manner. Although the home look had some tonal patterning ongoing, it was much less exciting.
This period will be forever remembered for that 1992/93 campaign which saw Glen Hoddle manage the Robins to the top-flight of English football for the first time ever.
1984 – 1991 – Spal
Spal’s first home top was played in for three seasons and it was a classy edition with the V-neck look parading white pinstripes. Much less impressive tonal diaganol stripes followed via both jerseys from 1987 until 1989.
It could be argued that Spal saved their best effort until last, with the final set of jerseys, which were in place for the final two seasons, both show-piecing a quilted pattern. Small, patterned touches were also included within their necklines.
1981 – 1984 – Coffer Sports
Coffer Sports supplied the Robins for three seasons. The shirt designs were minimalistic.
1980 – 1981 – Adidas
Adidas was the first brand to enter a manufacturing partnership with Swindon. The Adidas Originals branding paraded the shirts.
Swindon Town Shirt Sponsorship History
Time to see which brands have appeared on the front of a Swindon shirt…
2023 – present – MiPermit
Parking payment service, MiPermit, who also manage a car park at Swindon’s home stadium, hold an all-text look.
2022 – 2023 – First City Care Group
First City Care Group is a Swindon-based care company. Their feature was pleasant and text based.
2021 – 2022 – Bartercard
The logo of Bartercard, a financial trade exchange company, appeared for a single season.
2014 – 2021 – Imagine Cruising
The minimal branding of Imagine Cruising, a travel company, took up the slot for lengthy period. In all but their first season, they sponsored every jersey.
In 2023, the firm agreed to sponsor the jersey of the women’s team.
2014 – 2015 – C&D Recruitment
The one shirt which Imagine Cruising didn’t sponsor was the 2014/15 away strip. Instead, recruitment firm C&D Recruitment boasted their logo and URL.
2011 – 2014 – Samsung / EA Sports
Swindon landed quite a coupe between 2011 and 2014, with the well-known electronics company, Samsung, and popular video game developer, EA Sports, adorning the jerseys. Samsung took the home and third kits, while EA Sports took the away tops.
EA Sports utilised the shirts to advertise their new game titles.
2008 – 2011 – FourFourTwo / EA Sports
EA Sports started to sponsor the Robins’ away looks in 2009/10. For the season prior to then, FourFourTwo, a respected football magazine, took all of the jerseys.
Once EA Sports got involved, like Samsung, FourFourTwo moved to sponsor just the home and third kits. Both features were complimentary.
2007 – 2008 – Kingswood Group
Kingswood Group is a firm which has experienced plenty of controversy over the years. Swindon claim they never received a penny for this deal.
1997 – 2007 – Nationwide
The world’s largest building society, Nationwide, took up the slot with their recognisable branding for a decade. Even since this deal ended, they have worked with the club in different means.
1995 – 1997 – Castrol
British oil company, Castrol, utilised a different feature on each jersey.
For example, they used the away top to promote their GTX engine oil product, and the third jersey in 1996/97 promoted MAGNATEC. Unfortunately, the branding of the third top wasn’t so eye-pleasing.
1991 – 1995 – Burmah
Burmah is another British oil company which was acquired by Castrol.
1989 – 1991 – GRW FM
The branding of GRW FM, a radio network of three South West radio stations, was unfortunately quite an eye sore.
1984 – 1989 – LLG
LLG stood for Lownes Lambert Group and they were believed to be an insurance company.
1983 – 1984 – ISIS
Construction firm, ISIS, were the first business to appear as the club’s front of shirt sponsor.
Conclusion
Although the club’s 90’s era isn’t as impressive as other clubs, there is plenty of history within it resulting in some sought-after shirts. There are some unappealing jerseys within the 2000’s, however the Robins have since started to enjoy an intriguing period working with Puma.