Every new Championship kit rated as Leeds United underwhelm but Cardiff City and Swansea City get it very right we say.
By Tom Coleman (Media Wales)
Wednesday 10th July 2010
Championship clubs are gearing up for the new season by releasing the strips their sides will be donning for the upcoming season.
Some teams are yet to reveal what attire they will be taking to the pitch for the 2019/20 campaign, but the majority of the second tier have already released their new kits.
Derby County, Middlesbrough and Hull City were early with their kits, and we've dissected each strip that's been released so far.
Cardiff City, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have recently joined the party with smart-looking strips, but there are some horror shows too.
So read on to see how Media Wales have rated every kit that has been released so far this summer.
Birmingham City
Birmingham City’s home kit for 2019/20 is a very smart number, capped off by a darker blue tint on the sleeves and a white finish. However, the let-down is the sponsor branding - it would be fine if it wasn’t for the yellow slogan underneath.
Rating : 3/5
Blackburn Rovers
(Image: Blackburn Rovers FC)
Now this is nice. A really simple, clean elegant effort here that results in a tasteful, modern-looking shirt. The red trim on the sleeves adds a nice flash of colour that brings everything together really nicely. Great stuff.
Rating : 5/5
Brentford
(Image: Brentford FC)
Waving goodbye to Griffin Park, Brentford’s kit for the 2019/20 season is exactly what you’d expect from a red and white striped shirt but the look is let down by the sponsor.
Rating : 2/5
Bristol City
(Image: Bristol CIty FC)
Simple but effective, red with a white trim always works. With a sleek, modern new badge, the Robins’ home kit for the 2019/20 season is one of the best we have seen so far. Perhaps it could have been a bit more unique, though.
Rating : 4/5
Cardiff City
(Image: Cardiff City FC)
No messing from Cardiff, who stick to the tried and tested approach with Adidas. Nice touch with the Bluebird on the back and the detailing in the shirt keeps it fresh.
Rating : 4/5
Derby County
(Image: Derby County FC)
Now this is how you do it. Stick with what you know but make a slight tweak to make it stand out. The white and black stripes on the sleeves may not be everyone’s cup of tea but the end result is definitely recognisable.
Rating : 4/5
Fulham
(Image: Fulham FC)
A minimalist design but one that packs a punch. Nice and simple from the Cottagers, who stick to their roots with this fine number.
Rating: 4/5
Hull City
(Image: Hull City)
A throwback to the 1990s, the shirt should actually be thrown back at the designer. The look for the Tigers is a step too far. What’s wrong with stripes? Definitely the worst kit of the year.
Rating : 0/5
Leeds United
(Image: Leeds United FC)
Leeds have produced some utterly stonking kits in recent years, but this one is just little, well, dull. It's quite smart, but given that this is a kit to celebrate their centenary, it's a pretty bland design.
Rating : 2/5
Luton Town
(Image: Luton Town FC)
Luton Town’s home kit, unsurprisingly, is orange but there are some bold choices. The effect on the orange looks good, as does the white sleeves, but the choice of a black chunk to finish rather than just a trim is disappointing.
Rating : 3/5
Middlesbrough
(Image: Middlesbrough FC)
It’s a bit different, which is good, and also takes fans a trip down memory lane. It’s a smart way to shake things up with a kit that is usually all red with a white trim but I expect it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
Rating : 4/5
Millwall
(Image: Millwall FC)
Millwall have produced some dud kits over the years, but this one is actually rather nice. The unusual sponsor alone makes it a potential future favourite for the retro kit collector, but the overall design pops a lot more than previous efforts. Simple, but very well executed.
Rating: 4/5
Nottingham Forest
(Image: Nottingham Forest FC)
Not a bad first effort from Macron - not sure about the printed-on badge, though.
Rating: 2/5
Preston North End
(Image: Preston North End FC)
How do you change a white kit? Go with a slightly different approach. The navy sections and Nike badge look well, while credit should also go to a sponsor that doesn’t look out of place. It’s simple with a slight touch of inventiveness, which works for me.
Rating : 5/5
QPR
(Image: QPR FC)
Smart, but ultimately underwhelming from QPR. The polo detail is nice but doesn't belong on a football shirt.
Rating : 3/5
Stoke City
(Image: Stoke City FC)
What can you do with red and white stripes? Not a lot, really, and Stoke City haven’t tried to be different with their kit for 2019/20. The collar is smart, as is the overall look, but it isn’t one that will stand out in the coming years.
Rating : 4/5
Swansea City
Swansea City's new home and away kits (Image: Swansea City FC)
It’s tough for Swansea to veer too far away from their classic white shirt with black trim, but this looks smart. The black collar adds a nice touch and earns them some extra marks.
Rating : 4/5
West Brom
Does it look much different? No, but there is still a lot that could go wrong. West Brom stick to the basics and emerge with a very smart kit and it’s nice to see a sponsor that fits the kit perfectly.
Rating : 5/5
Wigan Athletic
It's a near total revamp on last year's effort. This season sees Wigan go for a solid royal blue with white pinstripes, along with the a really green trim on the sleeves. It's not particularly exciting, but at the same time there's little to take issue with. A pretty average effort.
Rating : 3/5
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