The Top Five Leeds United Home Shirts
22 Jun 2019 07:21 am, by YorkshireSquare
From the classic all white shits of the 60’s came the bling of the late 70s and the advent of shirt sponsors in the 80s. Modern printing techniques meant new shirts were produced nearly every season with different patterns and designs to capitalise on the vast income generated though replica kit sales. It’s lead to some interesting kit designs over the years, some beauties and some absolute shockers. As we think of our favourite players or our most important games we will always have an image of the shirt they wore. Be it the Allan Clarke heading home the 1972 Cup Final winner in his all white LUFC script shirt or Dom Matteo scoring in the San Siro in that Strongbow shirt. Here are our favourite five Leeds United home shirts…
5) Strongbow (2000-2002)
Manufacturer: Nike | Sponsor: Strongbow | Badge: Shield | Looked Good On: Mark Viduka
Worn at the peak of the O’Leary years the Strongbow shirt from the Champions League days embodies the most successful and entertaining football Leeds played in the modern era. Always the bridesmaids finishing 4th and 5th in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League that young team moulded by David O'Leary was always great to watch. The kit featured the ‘Euro Shield’ badge and along with it’s all yellow counterpart set the Champions League alive in 2000-2001. Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler top scored in the kit also worn by Alan Smith, Rio Ferdinand and Olivier Dacourt. The end of the Strongbow era marked the start of Leeds United’s decline.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
4) Yorkshire Evening Post (1991-1992)
Manufacturer: Umbro | Sponsor: Evening Post | Badge: Yorkshire Rose | Looked Good On: Eric Cantona
The Yorkshire Evening Post shirt was only worn for the 1991-1992 season, but what a shirt, what a season! A variation on the previous seasons Top Man shirt. It featured the football in a Yorkshire rose badge and blue and yellow trim on the sleeves. Howard Wilkinson’s team lifted the First Division Championship, the last true champions before the dawn of the Premier League, with Lee Chapman leading the goal scoring tables. Chris Fairclough and Mel Sterland also wore the shirt along with that memorable midfield quartet of Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan, David Batty and Gary Speed. Best accompanied with a didge Leeds United flat scare and the first division trophy.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
3) All White, LUFC Script (1971-1973)
Manufacturer: Various | Sponsor: None | Badge: LUFC Script | Looked Good On: Allan Clarke
The LUFC script kit worn from 1971-1973 was only worn for a couple of seasons but it will go down in history as the kit in which we won our only FA Cup in 1972 against Arsenal at Wembley in the Centenary FA Cup final. We were also runners up in 1973, the same year we were Cup Winners Cup runners-up. Peter Lorimer and Allan Clarke top scored in the shirt but it was also worn by greats such as Jack Charlton and Paul Reaney. Accompanied by a pair of blue sock tags it is perhaps the most classic of all Leeds United kits. The kit was also rejuvenated as a ‘retro’ design for the 1995-1996 season when it was worn by Tony Yeboah as he thundered in his famous volleys against Liverpool and Wimbledon.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
2) Thistle Hotels (1993-1995)
Manufacturer: Asics | Sponsor: Thistle Hotels | Badge: Yorkshire Rose | Looked Good On: Gary McAllister
The Thistle Hotels shirt with it’s blue and yellow stripe across the middle is a bit of a favourite of mine. The 1993-1994 season was a period of change, the magnificent new East Stand with its 17,000 seats opened in 1994 and the Kop was made all seater that summer. The midfield had a familiar feel with Gary Speed, Gary McAllister and Gordon Strachan near ever present though David Batty departed to Blackburn Rovers. Brian Dean and Rod Wallace were top scorers. 1994-1995 saw the surprise departure of Gordon Strachan to Coventry but club legends Tony Yeboah and Lucas Radebe were to join. Leeds finished 5th in both seasons they wore this shirt. Irish International David O’Leary also joined Leeds in 1993, injuries blighted his playing career but he would go on to make a big impact from the touchline.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
1) All White, Smiley Badge (1973-1976)
Manufacturer: Umbro/Admiral | Sponsor: None | Badge: Smiley | Looked Good On: Billy Bremner
The smiley badge only featured on Leeds shirts for seven years and only for three in its original form between 1973-1976, manufactured by Umbro and Admiral at various stages, it has gone down as a design classic. A plain white kit with a modern, quirky badge, quintessentially 1970s, it’s not surprising that this was the favourite when we ran a poll of favourite Leeds United shirts. We won the league in 1973-1974 in this shirt and it featured in perhaps one of the most famous days in the clubs history, the 1975 Champions League final. The smiley marked the pinnacle and the end of the Revie era, worn by some of the the greatest players to play for Leeds including Billy Bremner. It was Allan Clarke, Mick Jones and Duncan McKenzie who bagged the goals.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
For the start of our top ten Leeds United Shirts click here...
5) Strongbow (2000-2002)
Manufacturer: Nike | Sponsor: Strongbow | Badge: Shield | Looked Good On: Mark Viduka
Worn at the peak of the O’Leary years the Strongbow shirt from the Champions League days embodies the most successful and entertaining football Leeds played in the modern era. Always the bridesmaids finishing 4th and 5th in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League that young team moulded by David O'Leary was always great to watch. The kit featured the ‘Euro Shield’ badge and along with it’s all yellow counterpart set the Champions League alive in 2000-2001. Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler top scored in the kit also worn by Alan Smith, Rio Ferdinand and Olivier Dacourt. The end of the Strongbow era marked the start of Leeds United’s decline.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
4) Yorkshire Evening Post (1991-1992)
Manufacturer: Umbro | Sponsor: Evening Post | Badge: Yorkshire Rose | Looked Good On: Eric Cantona
The Yorkshire Evening Post shirt was only worn for the 1991-1992 season, but what a shirt, what a season! A variation on the previous seasons Top Man shirt. It featured the football in a Yorkshire rose badge and blue and yellow trim on the sleeves. Howard Wilkinson’s team lifted the First Division Championship, the last true champions before the dawn of the Premier League, with Lee Chapman leading the goal scoring tables. Chris Fairclough and Mel Sterland also wore the shirt along with that memorable midfield quartet of Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan, David Batty and Gary Speed. Best accompanied with a didge Leeds United flat scare and the first division trophy.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
3) All White, LUFC Script (1971-1973)
Manufacturer: Various | Sponsor: None | Badge: LUFC Script | Looked Good On: Allan Clarke
The LUFC script kit worn from 1971-1973 was only worn for a couple of seasons but it will go down in history as the kit in which we won our only FA Cup in 1972 against Arsenal at Wembley in the Centenary FA Cup final. We were also runners up in 1973, the same year we were Cup Winners Cup runners-up. Peter Lorimer and Allan Clarke top scored in the shirt but it was also worn by greats such as Jack Charlton and Paul Reaney. Accompanied by a pair of blue sock tags it is perhaps the most classic of all Leeds United kits. The kit was also rejuvenated as a ‘retro’ design for the 1995-1996 season when it was worn by Tony Yeboah as he thundered in his famous volleys against Liverpool and Wimbledon.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
2) Thistle Hotels (1993-1995)
Manufacturer: Asics | Sponsor: Thistle Hotels | Badge: Yorkshire Rose | Looked Good On: Gary McAllister
The Thistle Hotels shirt with it’s blue and yellow stripe across the middle is a bit of a favourite of mine. The 1993-1994 season was a period of change, the magnificent new East Stand with its 17,000 seats opened in 1994 and the Kop was made all seater that summer. The midfield had a familiar feel with Gary Speed, Gary McAllister and Gordon Strachan near ever present though David Batty departed to Blackburn Rovers. Brian Dean and Rod Wallace were top scorers. 1994-1995 saw the surprise departure of Gordon Strachan to Coventry but club legends Tony Yeboah and Lucas Radebe were to join. Leeds finished 5th in both seasons they wore this shirt. Irish International David O’Leary also joined Leeds in 1993, injuries blighted his playing career but he would go on to make a big impact from the touchline.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
1) All White, Smiley Badge (1973-1976)
Manufacturer: Umbro/Admiral | Sponsor: None | Badge: Smiley | Looked Good On: Billy Bremner
The smiley badge only featured on Leeds shirts for seven years and only for three in its original form between 1973-1976, manufactured by Umbro and Admiral at various stages, it has gone down as a design classic. A plain white kit with a modern, quirky badge, quintessentially 1970s, it’s not surprising that this was the favourite when we ran a poll of favourite Leeds United shirts. We won the league in 1973-1974 in this shirt and it featured in perhaps one of the most famous days in the clubs history, the 1975 Champions League final. The smiley marked the pinnacle and the end of the Revie era, worn by some of the the greatest players to play for Leeds including Billy Bremner. It was Allan Clarke, Mick Jones and Duncan McKenzie who bagged the goals.
Check out the range of Leeds United Retro Shirts available on Amazon.
For the start of our top ten Leeds United Shirts click here...
