Palace fans get shirty over new kit designs
Palace supporters are so disappointed with the club's designs for next season's shirts that they have designed their own alternatives.
Last week we published the four choices (two home, two away) that the club had put to fans, who were given the opportunity to vote for their favourites. None seem to have gone down well with the punters.
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TORN OFF A STRIP: Palace fans have their own ideas for next season's kit
Now, fans Dan Mulcahy and Jack Laws have come up with their own designs:
Freelance graphic designer Mr Mulcahy, 27, from Purley, said: "I had a bit of spare time on my hands so I designed the kits in around 10 minutes. It just goes to show that it doesn't take long and it just seems the designers have used generic kits and just slapped the crest and sponsors on the shirt.
"It seems there is no understanding of our heritage or tradition. I always get excited about the launch of the new kits, but these are just a massive disappointment."
Mr Laws, 24, from South Norwood, was equally disgruntled. He said: "They just seem badly designed and a lot of other fans are saying the same thing.
"There is a campaign on the internet to retain the current sash kit which the club have only used for one season and have not even considered keeping on as the change strip."
Supporters were unanimous in their support of the club's decision to reintroduce the sash as worn by the likes of Peter Taylor when Division Three Palace reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1976, but the latest designs have received nothing but criticism.
Laws said: "The change strips either look like Croydon or Celtic. If the club wants to give fans an option why not open it up to everyone so that people can design their own kit?"
Laws's favourite Palace shirt is the sash change strip as worn during the run to the 1990 FA Cup final, although older fans have their particular preferences.
Club historian Reverend Nigel Sands, 70, said: "In my opinion Palace should play in claret shirts with sky blue sleeves, white shorts with claret and blue socks.
"Those were the club colours until Malcolm Allison came to the club at the end of the 1972/73 season."
It was a colour combination that was revived in a modified form during the club's centenary in 2005 and recalled a time before Palace's shirts started mimicking those of Barcelona.
In a brief response Crystal Palace said: "The club have noted the supporters' comments with regard to the kit designs which have been put forward to the voting stage and will be releasing a statement on the club's official website shortly."
Do you think you could do better than Mr Mulcahy and Mr Laws? You can upload your attempts to our Flickr group. Go to www.flickr.com/groups/fanspalacestrip to find out more. Alternatively, e-mail hassan.hadi@essnmedia.co.uk and we will upload them to the group for you.
*Are you always taking photographs of Croydon? Do you want to share them with a wider audience? Why not join the Advertiser's main Flickr group - go to www.flickr.com/groups/croydonadvertiser to find out more.
18 Comments
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by Michael, New Malden
Monday, March 09 2009, 12:57PM
“I must admit I do like the new home designs for next season, but I would have to agree with the Reverand that it would be nice to see us in original colours of claret and sky blue.”
by richard, welling
Sunday, February 22 2009, 9:37AM
“whatever the design, whether it be plain body and contrasting sleeves or plain body with thin contrasting vertical stripes, the colour should be the true palace colours of CLARET and LIGHT BLUE, not that awful red and blue we have put up with for so many years!”
by Bob, Essex
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 12:27AM
“Lets go back to the late 50's and early 60's shirt with the claret and light blue hoops with the badge in the middle (Terry Long Johnny McNicol era”
by Shane McGrath, South East London
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 3:57PM
“As a palace fan, I believe the choices that the club have provided us, are not based on what they think we will want, but based on what they think is easiest and possibly cheapest to create. We should keep the current sash, it is a great kit, and shows the clubs history. But will the club listen us? I very doubt it.”
by CHRIS WINSTONE, crystal palace
Monday, February 16 2009, 1:29PM
“The sash is one of the most defining kits in english football not to mention palace's history!!!
the marketing team really need to understand what the fans want and that is a classic red'n'blue striped home shirt with a sash shirt off the same sort as this years for the away,
I personally dont like any of the 3 away shirts and im not alone and wont be purchasing either the new seasons shirts or in the future until palace actually do what they say and listen to the fans rather then fob us off.
As for Jason in NI, you live off your one glory matey ;-)”
by Andrew, Addlestone
Sunday, February 15 2009, 11:36AM
“Actually Andy I wasn't disputing the Club's word that it was the most popular choice last year. I was questioning the Advertiser's assertion that support for it was unanimous. Whatever the stats (and actually I think they support the stripes rather than the sash) let's be a serious football club and stick with one basic design just like other proper football clubs do by and large (Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa , Everton etc etc).”
by Andy Burton, Selsdon
Saturday, February 14 2009, 1:50PM
“Well Andrew, Addlestone I for one voted for the sash this year and unless you're privy to the actual number of votes cast then you need to take the club's word for it that this was the most popular choice. Just for the record of the 36 years since the transformation to red and blue 11 seasons have been a 'sash' and another was not a stripe design. My argument therefore is that the sash is as traditional as the stripes and marked some memorable seasons including promotions, a championship and a cup semi final”
by Andrew, Addlestone
Friday, February 13 2009, 4:29PM
“So apparently 'Supporters were unanimous in their support of the club's decision to reintroduce the sash'? Well I wasn't and neither were other fans I spoke to.
If we want to be taken as a serious football club we shouldn't be changing our basic kit design. We can't do anything about what's happened in the past but please let's stick to the red and blue stripes design which we've worn for most of the last 35 or so years, which is associated with our greatest achievements (Cup Finals, finishing 3rd in the top flight) and with which we are now most firmly associated. And if we must wear the Miss World sash then keep that for the Away kit.”
by bluey, Croydon
Friday, February 13 2009, 3:12PM
“why dosnt each kit come with a cup of bovril and a bobble hat! ha ha!”
by Andy Burton, Selsdon
Friday, February 13 2009, 1:05PM
“This year's choices are disappointing for a number of reasons.
Why (for all kits) aren't the full kits shown? - short and sock combination could influence the choice.
Why has home kit 1 got inconsistent stripes on body/sleeves - and why the panel on the back when many other clubs in Premisership and Championship do not have this?
home kit 2 - why predominantly blue? And why is the shade of blue so light?
Both away kits are not 'Palace colours' - why not utilise claret and blue for away kits and red and blue for home?
There are many great desiens by supporters shown on the forum - I have posted some too on there. Along with others i'd like to know who from the club picked these and their justification for doing so!”