Even in their 95th year, Umbro have shown they can still produce football kits for fans and players to be proud of, with a stunning re-work of two vintage West Ham United shirts.
Inspired by the Academy of Football’s class of 1980, Umbro have produced two of the classiest updates of a club classic design we are likely to see for the coming Premier League season.
Taking their cue from the Admiral shirts worn by the Hammers in their FA Cup final victory over Arsenal at Wembley almost 40 years ago, Umbro have absolutely nailed the difficult task of updating two legendary shirts for a modern era.
West Ham’s home shirt for the 2019-20 campaign is the most immediately eye-catching of the pair, featuring a new take on the Admiral yolk across the top of the chest and shoulders.
Those thin chevrons and big floaty collars that adorned the shirts worn by Billy Bonds and Co on the road to Wembley, are replaced by a more modern looking v-neck and a set of hoops which sit perfectly behind the current version of the crossed hammers crest.
The boldness of Umbro’s claret and blue effort may initially over-shadow the more understated away number, but on closer inspection, the all-white kit pays the perfect tribute to that cup final triumph.
The cross-over v-neck collar and elasticated cuffs in club colours are details as cool as anything you will see in any league in any part of the world, and perfectly salute those memories of Sir Trevor Brooking heading home the winner at Wembley.
Perhaps the most pleasing development from West Ham and Umbro is that this year’s shirts are available without sponsors Betway’s logo in adult sizes, which will only add to their popularity among the Irons faithful.
We’ve always had a massive soft-spot for the famous claret and blue shirts of West Ham United and for all of those heroes and villains who’ve worn those colours down the years, so entrusting that great East End footballing tradition into the hands of a firm with a heritage for Sartorial Soccer elegance as rich as Umbro’s was always going to be a little bit special.
Whilst Hammers fans have not seen a lot to sing about since their move to the London Stadium, if Manuel Pellegrini’s boys can do as good a job of emulating Bonds, Brooking and Co as Umbro have done, then fortune won’t be hiding from West Ham for too much longer.
What do you think of Umbro’s update of these two classic West Ham United kits?
Please let us know in the comments below!
West Ham’s 2019-2020 kits are available to order here.
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