ARSENAL SHIRTS:

The shirt collection. A tribute to the most well-dressed team in the world!
1900 -1950s shirts

 

 

The Royal Arsenal team of 1888. The team had previously been called Dial Square. When the team turned professional in 1891 they changed their name again, this time to Woolwich Arsenal.

 

In the beginning Arsenal was a poor club, so when some Nottingham Forest players joined the Club in 1895 and brought some kits with them, they decided to use the same colours as Forest - red.The first kits were red with long sleeves and a collar with three buttons. Forest which had been founded 20 years earlier than the team now known as Arsenal, supplied Arsenal with the first kits.

Before that Woolwich Arsenal had tried a red/ light blue stripped kit the same year, letīs be grateful that they didnīt stick to that idea.

Right: Ceasar Llewellyn Jenkyns in the stripped shirt.

 

The Arsenal squad of 1895-1896

 

The Arsenal team of 1905/1906.

In 1913 the team changed their name again. Now they were simply called The Arsenal. The same year they moved to Highbury.

 

Right: Replica made by Toffs. This model was used in the 1930 Cup-Final as you can see for yourself on the picture to the left.

 

It was Herbert Chapman who invented the modern Arsenal kit, a red shirt with white collar and sleeves. He also put the Club badge on the left side of the shirt. The first time the kit was used was on March 4, 1933 Vs Liverpool at Highbury. We lost 0-1 but ended up Champions that year.

Right: Replica from Toffs.

 

 

 

Arsenal's first shirt manufacturer was Bubkta. During the 1938/39 season shirt numbering on the back of the shirts was introduced.

Left: Picture taken after the 1936 Final.

 

In the FA Cup Final against Liverpool in 1950 both teams had to change from their usual red shirts. The Arsenal manager Whittaker came up with these orange/old gold coloured shirts. Since then yellow, and later blue, have been used for the Arsenal away shirts. Whittaker also kitted out the Arsenal goalkeeper George Swindon in a brilliant crimson jersey. Whittaker thought that such a conspicous sight might distract the opposition forwards. This move may explain why the goalkeeperīs jerseys usually are really ugly. Right :Replica made by Toffs.

 

The V-neck from the late 50's, early 60's.

 

Picture taken from Andrew Millerīs Arsenal programmes and memorabilia site.