The Southampton home kit for 2023/24 had a vey 1980's feel to it, now comes the away kit and those that were there 30 odd years ago will probably recognise this one as well, read on for the full kit launch.
Southampton FC have launched their new away kit and its a familiar design for those of us who were about in the 1980's, a reworking of the 1989 offering when a plain white shirt with a light green trim described as Solent Green in the press release back then to represent the Solent.
34 years on and we have a very similar spiel, with the following press release from the club.
"Created in partnership with hummel, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this season, the away shirt focuses on the two blue waves within the club crest.
Each of the 2023/24 season kits celebrates a different element of the Southampton FC crest. The kit has been launched under the campaign ‘For the Badge’ as the club looks to acknowledge and celebrate the history of the crest.
Taking inspiration from the club’s proximity to the River Itchen, the city’s maritime history and the Southampton Docks, the white away shirt features a subtle striped ocean teal wave design. It’s matched with hummel’s iconic chevrons in ocean teal. On the reverse of the shirt, at the nape of the neck, proudly sits the waves that surround the city.
The shirt is complete with ocean teal shorts with hummel’s iconic chevrons in white and ocean teal socks.
The away goalkeeper’s shirt is bright pink, with a striking stained glass window effect design. On the reverse of the shirt, at the nape of the neck proudly sits the halo. The kit is complete with pink shorts and socks, featuring the iconic hummel chevrons in white.
The club is fully committed to creating a positive impact on the environment, as part of its dedicated sustainability strategy, The Halo Effect. The on-the-pitch and replica shirts have been produced using Eco8 material made from fabric created using recycled plastic bottles. Approximately eight recycled bottles go into every shirt and last season’s kit saved 167,664 bottles from landfill.
To launch the kit, a new video campaign is surrounded by projections of the local coastline, the docklands and Southampton’s maritime heritage, giving an industrial feel. The still campaign also has an industrial look and feel, giving a nod to the Southampton docklands from a set and styling perspective, with players including Tino Livramento, James Bree, Paige Peake and Megan Collette. Photographs were taken by the renowned athlete photographer Matt Gordon.
Like with the Southampton FC Women’s home shirt, the club will be selling a limited run of replica away shirts specifically for the Women’s team, which will proudly have Starling Bank on the front. These will be available to buy online and in the club shop.
In fairness both of this seasons kits have remained fairly faithful to the 1980's version also created by hummel, but on a personal not I am a little disappointed that we have not recreated the iconic hummel yellow shirt that was used as a 3rd kit back then.
We had a virtual all white shirt last season as the home shirt and aside from the trim, there is not much difference in this one apart from there is no red stripe down the front.
But that aside it is a fairly reasonable design and at least it is quite traditional, the home kit will be very popular and this one could be as well.