Middlesbrough celebrate 25 years at the Riverside Stadium with another crowd-pleasing set of shirts from Hummel.
Both the home and away shirts recall, but don’t directly copy, those worn by Bryan Robson’s boys on their return to the Premier League.
The 1995-96 season also saw Boro leave Ayresome Park for their brand new, purpose-built home, then known as the Cellnet Riverside Stadium.
Robson assembled an expensive side featuring record signing Nick Barmby, Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Brazilian sensation Juninho.
As “Juninho fever” swept Teesside, Middlesbrough finished 12th on their first season back in the big time, meaning that Erreà’s shirts from that campaign are fondly remembered by the Riverside faithful.
Given the choice, Boro fans would most likely plump for a red home shirt with their famous white band across the middle, with Inter Milan-style black and blue stripes favoured as their away colours.
And that’s exactly what they’ve got from Hummel.
Boro’s 2020-21 home shirts tick all the right boxes and improve on the 95/96 shirts by bringing in that famous white band, albeit with a dirty great gambling sponsor taking up much of the panel.
The influence of 1995-96 is perhaps most closely seen in the collar which brings a navy blue trim for a slightly Norwegian look.
Hummel deliver a perfect one-two with the release of their away shirts, with black and blue providing a popular counterpoint to red and white.
This time, the colours merge to leave thin purple pinstripes, whilst details in white complete a very smart kit that looks dark and menacing enough for trips to Barnsley, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest.
As if the designs weren’t good enough to look at already, Boro fans can also sleep easy knowing their kits are among the most sustainable on the market.
Normally it takes 25 litres of water to dye an individual t-shirt but Hummel’s ZEROH2O system reduces that to zero, whilst using 50% less energy than it takes to produce the average football shirt.
Yes we know the Smoggies were concerned about that!
After a lowly 2019-20 campaign, Middlesbrough will be hoping for a far brighter season ahead under promotion specialist Neil Warnock.
Perhaps the popularity of Hummel’s kits may just deliver a boost to players, staff and fans ahead of the Riverside’s silver jubilee season.
What do you think of Middlesbrough’s new home and away kits by Hummel?
Please let us know in the comments section below!
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