Mystery of Monochrome: Unraveling Iconic Football Kits in Black and White

When we think about football kits, vibrant colours usually come to mind. The bright reds, deep blues, and striking yellows creates an identity for the club and their fans. But what happens when you take away those colours and present these iconic kits in black and white? Suddenly, they transform into a riddle—a mystery of shapes, patterns, and forms that challenge that identity. This blog post will explore the captivating world of football kits presented through the black and white photography in programmes which was the usual way to see those kits in print and on TV and see if we can identify teams or the colours they represent.

A team photo from a 1950's programme - is it red, blue or something else?

Recognising Teams Through History

Identifying teams in monochrome images isn't just about trying to work out what shade of grey represents red, blue or any other colour. It's about recognising the design itself and knowing the historical evolution of the kit that the club have today. Designs are closely tied to specific clubs, and their histories become intertwined with the kit and badge.

Take the famous stripes of Newcastle United. In black and white, the bold vertical lines are easily recognisable and similarly, teams like West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United also have those bold stripes in different colours. In the absence of colour the patterns can often give a clue to the team and it is thought that classic kits often retain a 70% recognition rate among loyal fans, highlighting how well they identify such historical designs without colour. Would you be able to recognise the differences above? Follow for more posts of kits in monochrome to be posted.

Another programme team photo, in bold stripes - but which one?

Patterns and Designs: The Clues Hidden in Monochrome

While a team’s colours are crucial identifiers, the patterns and designs of the kits also offer clues. For instance, if you see a kit featuring the distinctive red shirts with white sleeves, it would likely correspond to teams like Arsenal, Ajax, Braga or Rotherham. When displayed in black and white, it might transform into any team with this contrast in shirt and sleeves, could this even be mistaken for claret and blue of Villa, Burnley or West Ham?

A team photo in a programme from the 1950's - do you know the team?

Unraveling the Mystery

The programmes on firethorncollections.com are filled with monochrome images of teams in their kits, and brings intrigue and nostalgia. This unique perspective encourages us to engage differently with the 4k, UHD images we see today, urging them to look beyond vivid colours and appreciate development of these heavy fabric, blocks of pattern to the shirts fans buy today to show their club identity. The challenge of knowing the correct team to these kits allows us to uncover the legacy of each team, demonstrating that football is, at its core, a tapestry of unforgettable memories.

Next time you come across monochrome football images, take a moment to unravel the story behind the kits. You might discover different appreciation for that replica shirt you buy today and how far or not so, it has come from the heavy, bold design of the past.