The Evolution of the West Ham Kit: The Journey of Claret and Blue

While the West Ham club is known for its achievements, the West Ham kit, with the iconic claret and blue, made it even more recognizable. This kit has been synonymous with the Hammers for many years now, and it’s easy to spot them because of this. When they are on the field, you know it’s them. This article is going to discuss the evolution of this kit, and many interesting facts in between. You are going to learn some things about the club, and then about these iconic colours. Ready, steady, go!

The West Ham Club

The West Ham club is a professional football team. They are based in England, East London, and the club was founded in 1895 under another name; the club adopted the current name in 1900. As you can clearly tell, it’s not a new club! The players are known as the Hammers, and they have a very strong identity, which is partly thanks to the claret and blue kits. An interesting colour pairing, right? The club is known for its connection to the working class people in East London. Legends such as Geoff Hurst, Frank Lampard, and Bobby Moore have been produced by the club; that’s why the club is also called the “Academy of Football”.

The team won the FA Cup three times already, in the years 1964, 1975, and in 1980. They also won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023. It’s clearly a very successful team, and fans have been loving it since forever. It always had dedicated players, and a passionate fanbase. Besides the already mentioned names, some other famous players that were part of the team are:

• Jermain Defoe

• Rio Ferdinand

• Martin Peters

The Beginning and the 1900s

The club, originally called Thames Ironworks FC, wore dark blue kits. As previously mentioned, the club changed its name to West Ham in 1900, and that’s also when they adopted the new colours. There are many stories on why they changed the colours, but we cannot be sure which story is the real one. The most famous story anyway, is that the kit was inspired by Aston Villa. While the real reason is unknown, we know for sure that the 1900s is when they changed the colours.

In the early 20th century, the West Ham kit was a shirt with a claret body and blue sleeves, and white shorts (and white socks). This will become the signature look of the club for decades. The shirts had no logos, because there was no big sponsors, or other similar things. This kit can also be a representation of the simplicity of football then. Players were playing because of passion, and the viewers were watching football, not ads. The beginning of football is a very nostalgia period for both players and fans.

The first big moment for the team took place in 1923, when they played the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium (the first ever). The West Ham kit stood out, everyone saw it. They created an easily identifiable image for themselves, which always helps. The teams that were there in the beginning, like the first FA Cup, and other similar events, have a special place in the hearts of football fans. It’s been over 125 years since the club was founded, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club carries a lot of emotional meaning because it its history.

The 50’s and the 70s: What’s New?

The West Ham kit remained the largely the same during the 30s and 40s, but the 50s introduced some lightweight fabric, which was a big change. The shirts were made out of wool before. With lightweight fabric, and some improvement when it comes tailoring, the shirts became more comfortable, and easier to play in. Comfort and a good fit is very important when talking about the uniform of those that play sports, and football is not an exception. In 1958, the kit got even more recognition in English football thanks to gaining promotion to the First Division.

The 60s and the 70s were the Golden Ages of the club. West Ham had legendary players, like Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, and Geoff Hurst leading the team. They were one of those teams you didn’t want to be paired against, but it was an honour to lose against them. They were the classic Their kit throughout this period, and only in the 1970s the V-necks and polo collars were introduced. The club tried a few variations when it comes to the shorts; instead of white, they tried claret for a very short period of time.

The 80s and 90s: The Commercialization of Football

The 1980s come with the first-ever shirt sponsor, it was Avco Trust, and the logo could be seen on the West Ham’s kits in 1983. This is where the era of ‘clean shirts’ died, because, ever since then, shirts almost always have some kind of sponsor on them. Adidas also joined kit manufacturing in the 80s, and they brough a more modern take on the traditional design of the club. Clubs started experimenting more when it comes to manufacturers, designs, and even colours.

The club wore one of their most famous kits in the 1986 season. It’s when the club finished third in First Division. The 90s brought even more changes when it comes to the materials, bringing materials that were more breathable than ever before. The club partnered with many manufacturers (one of them being Fila), and they created a series of unique designs. Another memorable kit was worn at the 1999 FA Cup. After 2000s, the way that football kits look is a more familiar topic for people. Plus, the first 100 years (and something) of the club are probably the most memorable ones.

Conclusion

The West Ham kit, with its colours, is one of the most recognizable kits in football, especially in Europe. A club with lots of history, emotions, great players, and dedicated fans. This article puts some attention of the history of the club, and it’s amazing achievements. Football clubs are not only about football, but about the way society evolved. Details like the material of the shirts, the name of the club, and the players that were a part of the club, showcase evolution.