- As always with Manchester United content, the primary source of research is the ever-excellent United Kits.
Admiral took over as kit suppliers to Manchester United in the summer of 1975, as the club returned to Division 1 following the relegation at the end of 1973-74.
However, while a blue Umbro third shirt was worn against Southampton and Walsall in the promotion season (and would appear again after adidas replaced Admiral), the was no third kit in Admiral’s first season, with varying white shirts worn at Sheffield United and Stoke City.
For 1975-76, though, Admiral did provide a blue version of the home shirt, complete with a blue-tinged crest, and it was first seen away to Ajax in the UEFA Cup on September 15.
Previous third kits had tended to use white shorts and blue or black socks, but the rig-out in Amsterdam was noticeably different. For the first time since the 1968 European Cup final against Benfica, blue shorts were used and – uniquely in Admiral’s tenure – the players wore red socks.
Where they came from and where they went, we’ll never know. United lost 1-0 but won the second leg 2-0 to advance.
When the short-sleeve blue shirts were worn in the league, away to Southampton and Sunderland, white shorts and blue-topped black socks were used.
United wouldn’t wear red socks in a competitive game again until 2000.
From September 75 to 2000? Man U didn’t wear red socks in anger? Incredible. That’s up there with the Arsenal red shorts stat.