Fantasy Kit Friday – if Newcastle had stayed with Umbro

Today’s request comes from Gavin McElroy, who wanted to see how Newcastle United might have looked if they had stayed with Umbro in 1993.

In real life, the Toon switched to Asics, who supplied them with some fine kits. Would Umbro have fared better?

The infamous ‘barcode’ kit was in use for the final three seasons of the Umbro contract and it’s likely that, had the partnership been continued, there would have been a new home in 1992-93. We have stuck with 1993 designs to make things easier though, with the Internazionale template the logical choice, especially as it had panels at the hems of the sleeves like the Asics Newcastle one did.

For most home games, Newcastle used the ‘Blue Star’ version of their shirt, advertising the locally produced Newcastle Brown Ale (left). However, for all away matches, and home fixtures against high-profile opposition, the more nationally-known McEwan’s Lager was given prominence (right).

For the away, it would have been hard to find something to replicate the paintbrush-like effect of the Asics kit.

Instead, the choice is the design used by Sheffield United in 1993-94, featuring a two-tone sash. Perhaps the panel for the sponsor detracts a little but it was necessary for legibility rather than introducing a fourth colour – in reality, the home shirt had McEwan’s in yellow before it was decided to used a panel.

Newcastle needed a third kit in this era too, worn just twice, away to Sheffield Wednesday in 1993-94 and again in 1994-95.

Green with blue pinstripes, it’s best represented by the Manchester City third kit style – strictly speaking a 1992 design but given to City in 1993-94.

As always, your views – good or bad – are welcome, as are suggestions for future FKFs. Please leave a comment below or else tweet us @museumofjerseys.