Everybody gets excited when their team releases a new kit. The anticipation for a usually similar home kit to the last season, and what the new away strip will look like, is something most fans look forward to on a yearly basis.
There are some kits though that are better than the rest. Whether it’s the design, the sponsor, or what players wore the kit, some shirts standout from the rest. Teams throughout Scotland have a kit that you instantly associate with the club, and with the help of Gary Bierton from Classic Football Shirts, NTOF has listed some of the best.
Motherwell’s 1991 kit will always be remembered for the Scottish Cup victory. (Mandatory Credit: BenRadford/Allsport)
Here are some of our favourite kits from within Scottish football.
Aberdeen’s 1982/83 home shirt
A staple classic, this famous Dons kit was worn when Aberdeen won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983. This shirt was worn by legendary players in the Granite City, including Willie Miller, and it was also one of the kits used by the Dons under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bierton explained why this shirt stands the test of time.
“It’s a classic Adidas design, with the pinstripes and old school Aberdeen badge. This stands out not only because of it’s design, but it’s significance on the pitch as well,” Bierton said.
John Hewitt in the iconic Dons shirt. (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images).
“It’s a very elegant look and the highlight of it’s era. Because of what happened on the pitch, it takes on a different meaning for the fans. I’ve picked this strip because of the iconic images and videos from the cup victories. Even without the achievements on the park though, it would still be iconic, on design alone.”
Greenock Morton’s 1993-1995 home shirt
Perhaps the most iconic Morton shirt, this home kit was used for two years in the early 90’s. It boasts a full blue tartan design, with an equally stylish Buchanans Toffee sponsor emblazoned in the centre of the kit.
Bierton thinks it’s the unusual look that gives this shirt its iconic status: ” The tartan pattern is what makes it standout, for the right or wrong reasons. This kit just symbolises the experiments that went on with football kit design in the 90’s. They were really pushing the boundaries back then.
Tartan was one of many kit experiments. (Photo by Mark Leech/Getty Images)
“It’s not often you see the tartan design. The Buchanans Toffee sponsor is also unique, as it’s not something you would really see in the modern era, with betting and alcohol companies the normal choice nowadays.
“I think the sponsor is one of the main identifiers of the kit. If you mention the Millions sweets, I think of the Morton kits from throughout the 2000’s. It’s a crucial part of the shirt, sometimes that’s more important than the design element itself.”
Dundee’s 2000/01 home shirt
This shirt is a prime example of what a player can do for the longevity of a football kit. Argentine superstar Claudio Caniggia moved to Dundee at the turn of the millennium, in a deal that shocked the footballing world.
The signing of Caniggia remains Dundee’s biggest signing of the modern era. It is for that reason that this kit from the 2000/2001 season is forever remembered in Scottish football history.
Caniggia moved to Dens Park in 2000. (Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster/ALLSPORT)
Bierton believes this is a shining example of how important a player can be to a kit: “It is a polished kit design, with a really oversized club badge and sponsor making the kit really standout.
“Obviously when a cult player like Caniggia is involved, it just completes the look. Factor in his blonde hair and headband, you can really imagine him in these kits. I’ll not comment on his price tag though!”