Let’s Discuss The 25/26 West Ham Kit
West Ham is one of the well-known football clubs that we have today. The club is based in England and it has a very long history. This article is here to discuss the 25/26 West Ham kit. What went into the design and who sponsors the club now? But most importantly, what does the kit look like? Let’s take a look at the kit and give it a rating. We are warning you that bad opinions are not really welcomed, because fans seem to be loving the kit. You know how the saying goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.
The Design and Colours The latest West Ham kit is going back to the basics, but in the best way possible. The shirt has a V-collar and it’s in full claret. For those who don’t know, claret has been the official colour of the club since 1903. The V-colour alternates between claret and blue stripes, and the sleeve cuffs have the same design. The club’s crest is claret too, and Umbro, one of the sponsors and the kit supplier, is on the right side of the chest in a beautiful white colour. The shirt is paired with white shorts that have the crest and the sponsor in claret. The kit is a reminder of the iconic ‘90s kits. The design is simpler now, which gives it some kind of elegance. Many clubs try to come up with eye-catching designs, hoping that they will boost their popularity. But West Ham knows exactly what their fans want. A design that keeps the
core colours of the club intact. Of course that the crossed-hammers motif is still present on the shirt, pointing to the roots of the club.
The Away and Third Kits As you already expected, we also have an away and a third West Ham kit. These are the kits on which a little experimenting can be done. The away kit has the shirt in an ecru colour with navy blue and claret accents. This colour combination is clean and maybe even more elegant than the one of the home kit. The shirt has a normal round collar, and it’s paired with navy blue shorts. This design takes fans back to the time when Julian Dicks crazy tackles, and even Ian Bishop’s memorable passes. The colour palette of the third kit is navy blue and gold. With a fold-over collar and a bigger and bolder motif, this kit is certainly the most different one. The whole design points towards some courage and coolness that we didn’t see often with their kits. It’s more modern, but still keeping the traditional in mind. Let’s not forget about the golden shorts, making the kit stand out even more. The shirt is also made out of 100% recyclable polyester. Even if the away and third kits might be a little far from the classic claret colour, they still represent the club.
The Sponsors and Manufacturers The sponsor on the front of the shirt changed this season. BoyleSports takes over Betway, which is a significant change in terms of brand identity. Moreover, this is Umbro’s last season as the kit maker. The 26/27 season will be taken over by New Balance, under a multi-year deal. So, this was Umbro’s last chance to show off, and they decided to go for something classic. These kinds of designs are the ones that never go out of style. Focusing on heritage and subtle details is what makes this last set a win. Fans are already making assumptions about what the next West Ham kit will look like. Everyone knows New Balance and what they do, and it appears that their style could be a perfect fit for West Ham. The club’s collaboration with Umbro latest almost a decade, so there will be a change from what we know. Read more about this change of manufacturers in this article published by Footy Headlines. They get into why this change occurred in the first place and about some of the other deals that New Balance made. What do you think of this change?
What Do the Fans Think? As you probably expected, not everyone is happy. But, let’s be honest, nothing is liked by everyone. Some fans don’t like the home kit, others don’t like the away or third kits, while others don’t like the sponsor change. While nostalgia always makes a kit better, some fans are tired of it. They wanted something more from Umbro’s last kit. Many people expected something bold, some kind of a statement. Maybe they wanted to see Umbro saying goodbye by doing a design that has never been seen before. Instead, they went for something basic and classic. The other half of fans emphasised how important it was that this set encapsulated everything that West Ham was. A decade-old collaboration is coming to an end, and there is no better way to honour it than to go back to its beginnings. Some shout that the kit was ruined by the new sponsor on the front of the shirts. But that’s fine, because there is no secret method to use, so you can please everyone. Someone will always go against the current. What’s important is that this West Ham kit represents everything that the club was built on. It’s respectful and beautiful, and that must count for something.
Conclusion If you are waiting for the rating, know that we believe that this West Ham kit is a 10 out of 10. The colour combinations are almost royal, and the different collars go well with each shirt. The presence of the claret colour points to a deep appreciation of what this club is. The oversized
hammers on the third kit scream “We are here, and we plan to stay”. No matter the sponsor changes, or the manufacturer changes to come, this kit is important. Decades from now, we will look back at this moment and smile.
