As many will know I am a traditionalist and when something is not red & white stripes I usually don’t approve, but on the face of it at first glance I liked the look of this retro kit, but at second glance I am not so sure.

I first saw the original version of this kit at Wembley in 1976, when Saints lost to Liverpool in the Charity Shield, the game ending 1-0 to the League title winners from Merseyside.

Hard to believe it is 49 years ago, if we go back from 1976 the same time period then it would be 1926, the First World War only ending 8 years earlier, no replica kit back then.

In truth in 1976 it was a kit that split opinions amongst Southampton supporters, even the younger generation like myself were not that enamoured with it, it was described back then as looking like a deckchair.

But we played in this kit for 4 seasons, back then no changing kit every season, it saw some great games, a run to the European Cup Winners Cup quarter finals & promotion in 1978 saw some thrilling moments in the shirt.

So I have to say it grew on me.

At first glance both leaked versions on the internet & finally on the club website I thought that it looked ok, yes it looks like the wearer has been run over by a car that has just driven through red paint, but it is stripes as such.

But my feelings changed when I saw that the rear was plain white, i wasn’t surprised, but I was disappointed, from the back we are Leeds United not Southampton, the effect is just too much white in the shirt., if it was plain red then it would have looked much better.

Why do kit designers have plain backs on a shirt ? there are teams with striped shirts that don’t have plain backs, perhaps they have marketing directors who like me think it makes it look like a players is wearing a short apron over a plain t shirt not a football shirt.

Anyway it just ruins the look for me.

So the verdict is a little split for me, I am not complaining about the design from a traditional red & white stripes perspective, I am complaining about the plain white back.

So front of shirt gets an 8/10, the right balance between a retro kit and stripes, but the back gets 0/10.

I hope that the away kit has taken into account that we aren’t going to be able to use this kit at any team that plays in red or in white, even clubs like Blackburn with blue and white or Sheffield Wednesday, will see a change needed.

Still I still have my original version of the shirt and 4 weeks left to stay off the beer, pound the streets and starve myself to death to be able to get into it and wear it to the match.

Reuters

CARDIFFSAINT added 07:59 - Jul 4 My feelings are that we have wasted a glorious opportunity here and we should have gone with a shirt design that resembled as close as possible the Admiral red and white candy striped shirt of 76/77 that was iconic; what we have now with the plain white back really doesn’t do the original any justice and although I prefer casual to wearing a replica shirt I think this new edition could have been so much better, just my opinion.

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WoolstonSaint2 added 08:56 - Jul 4 100% agree, spot on amigo. The new kit is rubbish. Plain white back is scandalous. Only red stripes down the middle of the front is as bad as that rubbish Hummel kit from a few years back. How do kit suppliers and marketing bods get away with it again- stop messing with our kit!! Red and white stripes all over, as per the 1960s and early 70s kits- those are the best and we should be the same every year. Fat stripes, thin stripes, fat and thin stripes, mid-stripes, pinstripes, half-half, one stripe, diagonal sash, chevrons, all red, FFS- leave the kit alone!

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WestSussexSaint added 09:12 - Jul 4 I think the plain rear of the shirt is a UEFA decree so that the players names and numbers are more visible on TV.
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beynali73 added 09:12 - Jul 4 I like the new shirt but I've got a decent quality Score Draw heavy cotton version so a horrible polyester the sponsor on the front (hello sailor) for £65 is a clear no go for me. Regardless of the shirt design it's what's inside them that really counts.......the clock is ticking :) COYRs
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SaintinHolland added 09:38 - Jul 4 Couldn't agree more. Hate the white back. I'd much prefer they add the stripes and leave an empty square in the middle for the number if necessary. Definitely no fond memories attached the last white backed shirt we had a few seasons ago, that's for sure.
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Block8 added 09:57 - Jul 4 It doesn't suit the traditionalist tastes but maybe some of the younger fans will like it? I personally would prefer the red & white stripes front & back but believe that WestSussexSaint is correct it is a UEFA edict.
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Bowlercow added 10:17 - Jul 4 I have never liked the stripes in any design and would prefer a plain red shirt When we wore this one back in the 70's I even bought a set of car seat covers in the same designe Still as someone else pointed out the important factor is whose wearing it
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redwight added 11:03 - Jul 4 I'm not sure West Sussex is correct. Brentford, Sunderland and Sheffield Utd (?) seem to think differently.
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InTimeAddedOn added 12:13 - Jul 4 I think it is a UEFA requirement if you are playing in any UEFA sanctioned competition such as the Champions League or Europa League but not enforceable in the PL or Championship although the PL do lean on clubs to not have kits with striped backs. One solution to the plain white back is to find any decent printer who owns or leases a Roland DG Versa UV printer. It can print onto fabric in HD quality and would print the correct pattern of stripes directly onto the back of the shirt in a matter of minutes. Brilliant machines that can print onto a lot of different substrates and even round corners! About £25-30k a pop mind you…

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DF_20032017 added 12:31 - Jul 4 It isn't mandatory to have a plain back in the EPL or EFL - you need to have numbers visable but you can do this with a panel. I think the plain back on this shirt and the shirt from the previous prem relegation would have looked loads better without the plain back! Nice to not have a gambling sponsor too!
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saintmark1976 added 13:26 - Jul 4 If the new shirts were to be worn by Mick Channon and Chris Nicholl (it is him isn’t it ?) in there prime, we could play in sky blue pink for all I care. Two proper footballers.
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Monksway added 14:12 - Jul 4 The introduction of shirt sponsors on the front and the players' names on the back ruined striped kits. Also the modern TV multi billion game has nothing to do with the clubs traditions anymore. I'd prefer a new predominantly red shirt with perhaps a nod to our past but not these substandard re-hashes from the 70's and 80's.
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Joiedevivre added 14:16 - Jul 4 My opinion changes on every picture I see. In some lighting, it looks very nice; in others, the shade of red looks inconsistent. Then I remember it’s only a football kit. I’ll never buy one. As long as they’re not running round in bikinis.
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ItchenNorth added 14:38 - Jul 4 If the numbers on the back are red (or ever if they have to be black), simply get number 11 put on the back of the shirt! I'm not sure which current player wears 11, but it doesn't matter if you dont put a name on the back. Old Skool vibes complete !
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Jesus_02 added 15:33 - Jul 4 Saw it at the shop yesterday and its the best kit we have had for a while. Looks decent quality good attention to detail. The Red sholder pannels help wi the red/white balance. Yes it would be better if it was striped all over but it would also be better without a sponsor. I glad its not striped with a box or pannel , that always reminds me or Rugby for some reason . MOst of all im glad it diesnt have that sponsor like last year. It was classless and it looked like it had been ironed on at the last minute.

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