West Bromwich Albion

Kit History

1879-1880 a

1880-1881 a

1880-1881 alt a

1881-1882 a

1881 alt-1883 a

1882-1883 alt b

1883-1884 a

1884-1885 a

1885-1889 c

1889 a

1889-1893 d h

1895-1896

1900-1902 e

1903-1904 e

1907-1913 e i

1919-1920 e

1930-1931 e

1933-1934 e

1934-1941 e

1941-1947 a i

1947-1957 e

1957-1958 e

1958-1959 e

1959-1960 j

1960-1964 e

1964-1968 e

1968-1969 e

1969-1971 e

1971-1972 e

1972-1973 e

1973-1975 e l

Umbro

1975-1977 e m

Umbro

1977-1981 e

Umbro

1981-1982 e

Umbro

1982-1983 e

Umbro

1983-1984 e

Umbro

1984-1986 e

Umbro

1986-1988 g

Umbro

1988-1989 g

Scoreline

1989-1990 e

Scoreline

1990-1991 j

Influence

1991-1992 c

The Albion Collection

1992-1993 e

Pelada

1993-1994 j

Pelada

1994-1995 c j

Patrick

1995-1996 c j

Patrick

1996-1997 g

Patrick

1997-1998 g

Patrick

1998-2000 g

Patrick

2000-2002 g

The Baggies

2002-2003 g

Diadora

2003-2004 g

Diadora

2004-2005 c n

Diadora

2005-2006 h

Umbro

2006-2007 h

Umbro

2007-2008 h k

Umbro

2008-2009 h

Background

The club was formed by workers from the George Salter Spring Works and played their first match in 20 November 1878, a goalless draw with another works team, Hudson's FC. The story is that they walked to nearby Wednesbury to buy a ball and took the name West Bromwich Strollers as a result. In 1881 they became West Bromwich Albion.

In 1883 Albion won the Staffordshire Cup, beating Aston Villa in the semi-final and Stoke in the replayed final 1-0 after a 3-3 draw. This was also the year in which West Brom entered the FA Cup for the first time. In 1886 and 1887, Albion were beaten finalists but in 1888 they won the competition, surprise winners against Preston North End. They then visited Hampden Park, Glasgow to meet the Scottish FA Cup winners Renton, for the title World Champions but lost 1-4. With such a strong record, Albion were naturally invited to become one of the twelve founder members of the Football League.

In their early years, the club had turned out in a rich variety of colours and it was not until 1885 that the familiar blue and white stripes were adopted, albeit in a more conventional shade than they now wear. In 1889 they switched to broad cardinal red and blue stripes with black knickers, onto which was sewn a red stripe. This outfit was not well received and was quickly dropped. In 1892 Albion beat local rivals Aston Villa in the FA Cup final (after losing in semi finals in 1889 and 1891). Three years later the clubs met again in Albion's fifth FA Cup Final. Villa scored after 39 seconds of the game and won 1-0.

Albion moved to the Hawthorns in 1900 but the season ended in disaster as they were relegated to the Second Division. Although they were promoted back the following season, in 1904 they went back down and it was seven seasons before they returned to Division One. In 1912 they reached their sixth FA Cup final, losing to Barnsley 1-0 after a 0-0 draw.

When the League resumed after the First World War, Albion, now wearing the navy and white stripes that are familiar today, won the League Championship for the first and so far the only time. In 1927 they were relegated but in 1931 their fortunes were again on the rise. After winning promotion they beat neighbours Birmingham City 2-1 in the FA Cup final. Four years later Albion were back at Wembley, losing 4-2 to Sheffield Wednesday. In 1938 it was back to Division Two. During war time competition, the team wore plain blue shirts, presumably because they could not get hold of navy and white striped jerseys.

In 1949 Albion were promoted back to the First Division and in 1953-54 they came within a whisker of doing the League and Cup double. A 0-1 defeat by Wolves at The Hawthorns took the title to Wolverhampton but fans could console themselves with another FA Cup triumph, a 3-2 victory over Preston North End.

In 1965-66 Albion entered the Football League Cup for the first time and lifted the trophy, defeating West Ham over two legs in the final. The following season they reached the final again but this time it was at Wembley. Albion were odds on favourites but lost 2-3 to Third Division Queens Park Rangers. In 1968 Albion reached their third cup final in a row, beating Everton at Wembley to win the FA Cup for the fifth time. The Cup Winners Cup campaign in the following season was ended in the third round by Dunfermline Athletic after victories against RFC Bruges and Dinamo Bucharest. In 1970 they were back at Wembley in the League Cup Final but lost 1-2 to Manchester City.

Since then the club has had little success. After two seasons in Division Two between 1974 and 1976, Albion were good enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup three times between 1978 and 1981 but in 1986 they were relegated to the Second Division and this time there was no quick return to the top. In 1991 the club dropped into the Third Division for the first time in their history. It took two seasons to return to the Second Division and in 2002, Albion returned to the Premiership and although they were immediately relegated, they have bounced back and forth ever since.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources