Tottenham Hotspur Shirt History

Way back in 1901, Tottenham Hotspur became the first and, to date, only team with non-league status to win the FA Cup. Fast forward to 2023, they are now a well-known, well-established Premier League outfit. Let’s find out more about their history through shirts…

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Tottenham Hotspur Shirt Manufacturer History

2017 – present – Nike

So far, Nike have been fairly successful with their feature choice for Spurs’ white home shirt, with various smart, considered touches. For their first attempt in 2017/18, they added a 1950’s inspired club crest with a navy shield surrounding the cockerel. On the face of it, the 2021/22 edition comes across to some as plain, but within the side panels of the jersey is a pattern that has been put together by distorting and realigning the aforementioned cockerel emblem – the reason for this was because it marked 100 years since the cockerel first appeared on their strip.

Moving forward to 2023/24, this home top is an all-Lilywhite shade for the first time since 2012/13 and it features overlapping lines and circles in its background representing the sounds of London N17 and the area’s broadcasting history.

The home shirt donned in 2018/19 is famous for two reasons – it was worn in the campaign that they moved into their brand-new state of the art stadium and because they wore it in a Champions League final, albeit they lost. It was a bold gradient design where the white eventually faded into navy.

On the subject of their new home, the impressive turquoise third jersey from 2018/19 is filled with an imprinted graphic that is inspired by the outside of it. The Nike logo used is also one more common in the 90’s. However, not every Nike alternate shirt has been a success, with disappointing efforts coming in the form of the 2022/23 away top and the 2021/22 third kit.

Nike struck a whopping 15-year-deal with the Lilywhites in 2017, so there is at least a decade more of Nike-branded Spurs shirts to come.

2012 – 2017 – Under Armour

With it being their last season at the beloved White Hart Lane, Tottenham supporters will always have a special place in their hearts for the 2016/17 Under Armour home kit. It was white with navy colour blocks on either of its shoulders and it also had gold touches to its sleeve cuffs and neckline. In fact, gold became the theme of the campaign, as the navy away shirt also had striking gold features and the third top was predominantly gold with navy pinstripes.

It appears that the 2015/16 home top is the first time that the Spurs have donned a sash on their primary shirt. However, it was a sash with a difference as it was made up of six different-sized navy stripes. The idea behind the away kit for this season was fairly similar, with Under Armour opting for various different sized hoops looping around it.

A classic alternate jersey from this era is the 2014/15 away top – it was black with yellow pinstripes running down its centre. It’s side panels and sleeve cuffs were also yellow.

2006 – 2012 – Puma

In 2007/08, Puma released three plain kits that had stitching under the club crest to commemorate the landmark. However, they didn’t leave it here, they also took this as an opportunity to release a special edition shirt that was worn for one Premier League game in a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa. It was a polo design that was half white and half light blue.

The North London clubs fourth place finish in 2009/10 meant that they would walk out in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history in 2010/11, therefore, both of these collections are particularly memorable for Spurs followers. This is despite the fact that the inclusion of quite a lot of yellow on the 2009/10 edition divides opinion.

2002 – 2006 – Kappa

Kappa didn’t try anything too extravagant during their time with Tottenham, with the navy sleeves and thick side panels added to the home shirt in the final year being the most adventurous that they got. Their first home shirt, worn from 2002 until 2004, was also fairly eye catching with its broad navy collar and stitching.

Although, simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean everything was perfect, with the 2005/06 away kit and the all purple strip from 2003/04 being disapproved by many.

1999 – 2002 – Adidas

Adidas’ three-year stint from 1999 saw the creation of some solid football shirts. With its navy polo collar topping off the traditional white base, the home top donned from 1999 until 2001 was tipped to be hard to beat, but the German brand managed it in with a fine V neck edition worn in 2001/02.

1995 – 1999 – Pony

Pony’s debut kit included embossed Tottenham crests and the famous Latin motto “Audere est Facere”. This was not the best era of Spurs shirts, in my opinion. 

1991 – 1995 – Umbro

Umbro produced bold alternate kits, including distinctive purple and yellow designs with graphic sleeve patterns. Umbro made elite-tier shirts in the 1990s with the one below the greatest Spurs shirt of all time. 

1985 – 1991 – Hummel

Hummel introduced pinstriped home shirts and memorable designs worn during the Spurs’ 1991 FA Cup victory.

1980 – 1985 – Le Coq Sportif

The centenary shirts in 1982/83 featured special crest detailing celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary.

1977 – 1980 – Admiral

Admiral’s kits featured patterned collars and shoulder graphics typical of late-1970s football shirt design.

1965 – 1977 – Umbro / In-House

Earlier Spurs kits were extremely simple, with minimal branding until Umbro’s logo began appearing in the mid-1970s.

 

Tottenham Hotspur Shirt Sponsor History

2014 – present – AIA

AIA is leading life insurer in Asia and they use their partnership with Tottenham to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports.

2010 – 2014 – HP

HP, which stands for Hewlett-Packard, is a technology company most famous for its laptop production.

2006 – 2010 – Mansion Casino

Mansion Casino is an online gambling company.

2005 – Standard Charter

Standard Charter is a British multinational bank.

2002 – 2005 – Thomson

Thomson, now known as TUI Airways, is a large UK airline.

1999 – 2002 – Holsten

Holsten is a German brewery.

1995 – 1999 – HP

HP have also had two deals with the club.

1985 – 1995 – Holsten

The aforementioned Holsten were the clubs first ever front of shirt sponsor and the deal remarkably lasted for a decade.

Conclusion

To date, Spurs have avoided having too many disaster designs and they are seemingly leaning towards valuing long term partnerships more and more. Their deal with AIA is in its ninth year and, like we mentioned earlier in the piece, Nike have around a decade remaining on their current contract.