West Ham United Football Club, with its deep-rooted history in English football, has seen significant evolution in its football kits over the years. From simple, classic designs to the high-tech, brand-heavy shirts of today, the changes in West Ham United’s football shirts reflect both the club’s proud traditions and the rapidly changing landscape of football itself. The claret and blue colors, synonymous with the club, have remained a constant, but almost everything else about the kits has undergone transformation.

This article will explore the evolution of West Ham United’s football shirts, comparing the old and the new, and shedding light on how both reflect the changing nature of the sport and the club’s identity.

The Traditional West Ham United Shirt: Old-School Simplicity

The early days of West Ham United’s football shirts were defined by simplicity and tradition. Starting from the 1920s and throughout much of the mid-20th century, the club’s kits were simple, sturdy, and plain. The design centered around the iconic claret body with sky-blue sleeves, which became the hallmark of West Ham United’s identity.

Minimalist Design

The old West Ham shirts were notable for their minimalist design. Unlike today’s flashy patterns and details, the older kits often featured a plain claret front with light blue sleeves, occasionally with a collar or buttons down the front. The look was simple but effective, embodying the club’s working-class roots and no-nonsense ethos. There were no flashy patterns, no intricate designs, and, most notably, no sponsor logos in the early days.

The club’s crest, too, was often quite subtle or, at times, completely absent. It wasn’t until later that badges became a regular feature on football shirts. In many cases, shirts in the 1930s and 40s were entirely blank apart from the color scheme.

Material and Comfort

The material of these early kits was typically made from heavy cotton, which, while durable, was far from ideal in terms of comfort. Cotton shirts, especially in wet weather, became heavy and uncomfortable, absorbing moisture rather than wicking it away as modern materials do. This often made them cumbersome for players, especially when the matches got intense.

Fit and Style

The fit of the old shirts was loose and baggy, reflecting the fashion of the time and the limited technology available to produce sportswear. Players wore long-sleeved jerseys, particularly in the colder months, and the fabric offered little stretch or flexibility. These shirts were as far from today’s form-fitting, tailored jerseys as one can imagine.

One of the most iconic shirts in the club’s history is the one worn by West Ham United during their 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph, a simple claret and blue design, worn by club legend Bobby Moore. The simplicity of the kit perfectly captured the club’s traditional values.

Absence of Sponsors

It’s also important to note that in the early days of football, sponsorship on shirts was non-existent. West Ham’s shirts, like all football kits at the time, were entirely sponsor-free, which gave them a purer, cleaner aesthetic. Football shirts were about the club, its colors, and its crest — there was no space for corporate branding.

Modern West Ham United Shirts: A Blend of Tradition and Technology

Fast forward to the 21st century, and West Ham United’s football shirts have undergone a radical transformation. While the claret and blue colors remain a constant, almost everything else about the shirt has changed to reflect the demands of modern football, both in terms of performance and commercial appeal.

Complex and Dynamic Designs

One of the biggest differences between old and new West Ham shirts is the design complexity. Modern kits often feature intricate patterns, fades, and textures, with detailed stitching and additional visual elements that make the shirt more than just a solid color. These patterns sometimes reflect the club’s history, with anniversary kits incorporating elements of past designs to pay homage to the club’s legacy.

The club’s 2023/24 home shirt, for example, retains the traditional claret and blue but with added textured detailing on the front, which gives it a more modern, sophisticated look. There are also sometimes subtle design nods to the club’s history or its famous Boleyn Ground stadium, creating a connection between the past and present.

Advanced Materials

Modern West Ham United shirts are made using high-performance synthetic materials, such as polyester blends, designed specifically to wick sweat away from the body and keep players cool. These materials are lightweight, breathable, and dry quickly, ensuring maximum comfort during matches. This is a far cry from the heavy cotton shirts of the past, which became uncomfortable during long games.

These fabrics also offer a tailored, slim-fit cut, ensuring that players have full mobility without excess fabric weighing them down. The shirts are now designed to fit snugly around the body, reducing drag and enhancing performance, a stark contrast to the loose-fitting jerseys of earlier decades.

Sponsorship and Branding

One of the most striking differences between old and new West Ham kits is the presence of sponsorship. Modern shirts feature prominent sponsor logos across the chest, which have become a key revenue stream for football clubs. West Ham’s current kits feature the logo of Betway, the club’s main sponsor, in large print on the front. In addition, there are often secondary sponsors on the sleeves, as well as the manufacturer’s logo, such as Umbro.

The introduction of sponsorship in the late 1970s radically changed the look of football shirts. While it provided clubs with valuable income, it also meant that the kits were no longer just about the club’s identity but also about commercial partnerships. The modern shirt is a balance between maintaining tradition and embracing the commercial reality of modern football.

Old vs. New: The Key Differences

• Design: The old shirts were simple, with little more than the club’s colors and sometimes the crest. Modern shirts feature complex patterns, advanced fabrics, and extensive branding.
• Material: Heavy cotton in the past, lightweight, high-tech synthetics today.
• Fit: The loose, baggy fit of the old shirts contrasts with the form-fitting, tailored look of the modern kits.
• Sponsorship: Shirts were once sponsor-free, whereas today, sponsors dominate the design.

Conclusion

West Ham United’s football shirts tell a story of how the game has evolved over time. The old kits, with their simple designs and heavy materials, reflect a more traditional, less commercialized era of football. In contrast, today’s shirts symbolize the modern game, where technology, performance, and commercialism are intertwined with the club’s identity.

Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: the claret and blue colors, which continue to represent the heart and soul of West Ham United, bridging the gap between the club’s illustrious past and its ambitious future.