West Ham Shirt History
West Ham United were originally founded as ‘Thames Ironworks FC’, hence the club also being referred to as ‘The Irons’ or ‘The Hammers’. Let’s find out more of their history by exploring their shirt manufacturing and sponsorship deals.
West Ham Shirt History - Downloadable Checklist
West Ham United Kit Manufacturer History
2015 – present – Umbro
Umbro experienced immediate pressure as the Irons’ suppliers with their first collection marking the club’s final season at Upton Park, also known as the Boleyn Ground. The 2015/16 home and away jerseys were inspired by their early years at their former home. Commemorative printing was placed just under the club crest and on the back of the neck of all three strips used that year.
Their first season at their new home, the former Olympic Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, now known as the London Stadium, was the 2016/17 campaign. Their move was celebrated with more commemorative printing beneath the club crest – this time it read ‘Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2016 – 2017’. The switch was also acknowledged with a special edition shirt that was used in a pre-season friendly against Juventus – this was their first ever game at their new stomping ground. The top was a navy polo strip that echoed the very first kit worn by Thames Ironworks FC.
The 2022/23 range has its place in West Ham hearts forever, given that they won the UEFA Conference League that year. Their claret home jersey has blue and white stripes on its shoulders – this was inspired by their 1991 – 1993 home kit. Unique would be one word to describe that seasons black away top, as it had an unusual pink, white and sky-blue geometrical print on its sleeve cuffs. The third strip was white with an orange gradient pattern on its lower half – this paid tribute to the furnaces at Thames Ironworks.
There are three more honourable mentions that deserve to be spoken about from this period and the first is their 2019/20 away kit. The white strip defined class with its claret and blue striped neckline and sleeve cuffs.
The second was also classified as their away top and this was used in 2021/22. It had sky blue and white stripes that were inspired by their promotion winning heroics in 1992/93.
The final one for this section is the 2023/24 home shirt. This has a distinct pattern on its front that pays homage to their club anthem ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’.
2013 – 2015 – Adidas
Adidas produced five attractive shirts during this period with the first being the clubs 2013/14 home top. It was a polo design with a claret base, blue sleeves and a white collar. The away top was also a classic with its white base including spaced out blue pinstripes and claret detailing.
In 2014/15, Adidas recreated a design that was seen in the 1980’s with the home shirt seeing a return of thin white hoops. The away top was sky-blue with a dark blue sash and the third jersey had tonal diagonal stripes on its purple base.
2010 – 2013 – Macron
On the pitch ups and downs were experienced during Macron’s three-year stint, but the 2011/12 home top will live long in the memory of the West Ham faithful. This is thankful to Ricardo Vaz Tê’s late winner that broke Blackpool hearts in the Championship play-off final that year. As well as claret and blue, that seasons home kit had a few small golden touches. It also had a large Macron logo on its shoulder.
Their impressive away top used in 2010/11 remained as their third shirt for the following year. It was white with one claret stripe and one blue stripe running horizontally around its centre. The sleeve cuffs and neckline were also blue.
Macron’s final away jersey was just as interesting, with its V-neck collar being split half claret and half blue. Its sleeve cuffs were also alternating colours.
2007 – 2010 – Umbro
The tonally chequered polo strip used in 2009/10 is the clear standout of the home shirts from this period, but there a couple of alternate jerseys that catch the eye.
The white 2007/08 away top is one of them, with its main feature being the castle that was formerly used as part of the club’s crest patterning its side panels.
Another is a navy shirt that was first released in 2009/10. It had one vertical large sky-blue stripe in its centre. Its lower trim was also sky-blue.
2003 – 2007 – Reebok
The first home shirt that Reebok produced during this four-year partnership epitomises the old saying of ‘simple, but effective’, as despite its pleasant appearance, there wasn’t much to it other than tonal pinstripes. The away top used in 2003/04 also featured tonal pinstripes, but this navy jersey had another standout feature with its golden detailing’s.
Unfortunately, we can’t quite be as complimentary of the home shirt worn from 2005 until 2007. Perhaps it was the material they opted for, but it just looked ‘tacky’. The same word could be used to describe the 2006/07 away top given the unusual large pattern imprinted on the stomach area.
1999 – 2003 – Fila
Fila did a fantastic job of supplying for the Hammers and this is exemplified by the classy polo range worn from 1999 until 2001. A standout from that time frame is their white away shirt – it had navy side panels and shoulders, and its sleeves also incorporated claret colour blocks. It’s navy collar, which was outlined in claret and white, was pulled together with a sublime centre piece that featured the crossed hammers that is used in the West Ham emblem.
An admirable home shirt was worn from 2001 until the end of the partnership, but the white polo away strip used in 2002/03 is probably more eye catching with its striking claret pinstripes.
1993 – 1999 – Pony
The first Pony home shirt produced is certainly interesting, with the jersey used from 1993 until 1995 having a large blue pony emblem printed onto the chest area. A similar print was placed on the lower stomach and this continued over its side and onto the lower back. The shirt also had several tonal Pony logos embossed into its claret base.
The tonal branding method continued onto the 1995/96 third strip, which was the first of a few central crest designs from this era. The second came the following year in 1996/97 and this was an interesting mild yellow colour. The third was blue and it was used as the away kit in 1997/98 and as their third strip in 1998/99.
Despite their efforts to master a central crest design, perhaps the best-looking alternate jersey that Pony produced was their white 1998/99 away top – a crossed over hammers feature was placed under its neckline and this was a particularly striking feature.
1989 – 1993 – Bukta
The final home and away shirt that Bukta supplied are certified classics given their promotion heroics while wearing them, and this is reiterated by the fact that Umbro have produced modern versions. Although, albeit it isn’t caped in the same history, the tonally chequered home top used from 1989 until 1991 is just as eye catching.
A unique Bukta third strip was released in 1991/92, its main feature was the unaligned, small claret and blue stripes running across the central area of its white base. A smaller, similar feature appeared on its sleeves. Adding an elegant feel to the strip was the ‘WHUFC’ stitched into its collar.
1987 – 1989 – Scoreline
Scoreline kept the same shirts in place for both of their seasons with West Ham and they both followed the same design brief. The home top was the traditional claret and blue, while the away combined white and blue.
The V-neck strips had a central club crest with the manufacturer’s logo on one of its sleeves. Large side panels ran up to the jerseys shoulders and tonal stripes were imprinted on the base.
1980 – 1987 – Adidas
If you follow the Hammers then you need to get a hold of a shirt from this range, with some online forums claiming that this period of designs is the best in the club’s history. Each of them was capped in Adidas Originals branding and had V-neck necklines.
In 1983, Adidas and West Ham switched the club crest up a little with their home kit featuring a more stripped back edition. This was worn until 1985.
From 1985 until 1987, both the home and away shirts had those iconic, thin dotted stripes flowing horizontally around them.
1976 – 1980 – Admiral
The same two shirts were used in all four ‘official’ campaigns with Admiral as suppliers, however the English brand did supply West Ham with a special shirt a few months earlier and this was used in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1975/76 – which West Ham lost 4-2 to Anderlecht.
Glory did follow in Admiral strips, with the club winning the FA Cup final in 1979/80 after beating Arsenal 1-0 with a Trevor Brooking goal. On that day, they wore their white away top which had a blue V-neck polo combined collar with claret lines running through it. A blue colour block ran down its sleeves with claret Admiral logos flowing consecutively inside.
A similar collar was used on the home top, but this had a claret stomach area and a blue chest. The blue chest, however, did have a striped claret V running through it.
1975 – 1976 – Bukta
Bukta were the first official shirt suppliers for West Ham and they introduced themselves with a simple claret and blue crewneck shirt.
West Ham United Shirt Sponsorship History
Time to find out more about the brands who have appeared on the front of a West Ham strip…
2015 – present – Betway
Betway is an online gambling company and their feature was simply text-based. They have been paired with the Hammers for almost 10 years, although their branding has missed out on some special European nights given some countries sponsorship laws.
2013 – 2015 – Alpari
Global Forex Broker, Alpari, opted for a unique font for their ‘all text’ feature. On announcement, it was revealed this deal was supposed to last for three campaigns, but it actually only went on for two. This is presumably due to Alpari’s financial troubles.
2008 – 2013 – SBOBET
SBOBET is another online bookmaker and they took over halfway through 2008/09 due to their predecessor’s financial difficulties. For this reason, we will let their ‘sticker like’ feature slide for that campaign.
For the remaining years, their branding was simply their logo next to their URL without a background and it actually looked quite smart.
SBOBET relinquished their slot on several occasions to the Bobby Moore Cancer Research Fund.
2007 – 2008 – XL Holidays
West Ham’s contract with XL Holidays was supposed to run for three years, but financial problems prevented this.
2003 – 2007 – Jobserve
Jobserve, who headquarters in Colchester, is a recognisable job ad site. Their typical branding, which is their name and URL running through a slanted oval, took over the jerseys.
1998 – 2003 – Dr Martens
Dr Martens, more commonly known as Doc Martens, is a German founded British fashion company. For their feature, they used their famous curved text which can be seen on their logo.
1992 – 1998 – Dagenham Motors
Dagenham Motors’ effortless text-based feature had the slot for six seasons.
1989 – 1992 – BAC Windows
BAC Windows is probably the least attractive shirt sponsor in West Ham history so far. The home improvements business placed their large, red logo on the shirts.
1985 – 1989 – Avco
Avco were the clubs first ever front of shirt sponsor and they specialised in financial investments.
Conclusion
West Ham’s kit history is quite a pleasant one to research, with there being very little to fault. Historically, fans favour Adidas as their supplier, but kudos has to be paid to Umbro, who are picking up quite a weighted history with the club.