Today’s request comes from Coventry fan Jamie Leeson.
For a previous FKF, Jamie went with an Italian flavour for the Sky Blues, but this time it’s all English as he asked for Umbro kits to cover the spells with Ribero (1992-94) and Pony (1994-96).
In real life, Coventry only wore the double diamonds from 1983-86 so this is pretty much carte blanche – Jamie’s only stipulation was that we wouldn’t just re-badge any Manchester City home shirts and we wouldn’t be so lazy anyway.
Having partnered with Ribero, Coventry were given a blue version of the Norwich ‘bird-droppings’ shirt but we think Umbro would have gone some bit more straightforward – for the home at least.
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The Sheffield United first-choice kit provides the donor template, while the excesses of the away are mirrored thanks to the Manchester United away design.
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In Ribero’s second and last season, 1993-94, they gave Coventry a relatively plain yellow and navy third kit and here we have utilised a Manchester City home style.
Coventry forged an alliance with Pony in 1994, a year after Southampton and West Ham United had done so.
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While the Saints and Hammers had massive ticks on their home kits, Coventry were given a very restrained offering but this was a time when Umbro were pushing the envelope and so the Everton away/Ipswich home pattern is called upon.
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The away kit, replicating Coventry’s classic green and black stripes from the 1970s, is effectively a reversal of the real Celtic change kit.
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In 1995-96, Coventry had a two-tone purple away with amber trim and we couldn’t resist putting it through a Manchester United grey filter.
As ever, feedback is welcome, along with requests for future FKFs. Comment below or tweet @museumofjerseys.
