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The top levels of Scottish football feature two clubs that have primary kits featuring green and white.
For the past three decades, meetings between Celtic and Hibernian have been considered colour-clashes but the clubs haven’t always had the most suitable change options.
Prior to that, there were occasional instances of alternative kits being used but, by and large, the meetings saw both in their usual shirts. The 1991-92 campaign was the last where the Irish-rooted entities met with neither in a change jersey but the meetings were notable for the use of mashups.
September 28 – Hibernian 1 Celtic 1
The game began with Hibs in their default home kit and Celtic wearing the lime-green socks from their new away strip – in the 1980s, when Hibs had white socks, the Bhoys had worn an emerald change set.
However, echoing their 1989 meeting at Celtic Park, Hibs changed at half-time – though this time it was the shorts from the away kit – a straight reversal – that they donned. Whether that improved or worsened differentiation is a matter for debate.
December 4 – Celtic 0 Hibernian 0
On a night where Celtic did everything except score, they were in their usual kit and Hibs had the green shorts and socks from their change kit.
February 22 – Hibernian 0 Celtic 2
On this occasion, there was no issue with the shorts-clash, making it the last meeting where the clubs met each other with both in white shorts.
May 2 – Celtic 1 Hibernian 2
A game which was expected to be Paul McStay’s last for Celtic – he threw his shirt into the fans in ‘the Jungle’ in what was seen as a farewell gesture but later opted to remain – was the last in which the clubs wore first-choice shirts.
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As in the earlier meeting at Celtic Park, Hibs wore their back-up shorts and socks.
The next time the clubs met was in September of 1992, with Hibs in their purple and black change kit – from then on, that would become the rule rather than the exception.
Incidentally, that Hibs kit is often described as being a green version of the Arsenal strip of the time, but there are subtle differences.
That design – referred to as ‘Arsenal’ in the adidas catalogue at the time – was covered in a Templates of Worship article recently.
It originated in 1990 and, with Hibs and Arsenal in alternate two-year home kit cycles, the Edinburgh club’s offering arrived in 1991, hence the longer shorts.
A green/white edition of the ‘Arsenal’ was used for a Dynamo Dresden change kit and the differences in neck and fabric pattern to the Hibs shirt can be seen.
Hibernian during the 80’s “ahh right let’s see, the only time we really need to wear a change strip is whenever we play Celtic”
**opts for a white kit with green sleeves**
Think the common sense penny finally dropped at Easter Road during the summer of 1992 when they decided on a perfectly contrasting purple as the away choice.
Not that Celtic get away scot-free (excuse the pun) by having a change kit that to me resembled a Terry’s Pyramint…
I’ve always wondered what games did hibs wear the away shirt ( with the opposite white body with green sleeves) in during this season? As it’s a pretty pointless away kit in general unless worn away to teams in red ( and thus maybe the first colour blind kit change designed kit in uk? ) but then if that was the case I’ll be shocked if was worn away to hearts! 🤷‍♂️🤔!
I’ve seen a pic of Hibs wearing said away kit at Motherwell in the 1991/92 season, not sure where else they wore it though.
👍Jon …… also on a side note Celtic change kits are equally if not worse at hibs ground in many seasons plain yellow sometimes white aren’t great as with Celtic they almost always are paired with green shorts creating an “overall clash “ the only Celtic kits that seem to work for me that they come up with is the is all/ mostly black kits at hibs which are normally the 3rd kits sometimes (?) however I’m more surprised that Celtic home kit isn’t more fondly remembered as a classic …one off the last with short numbers
(Which if I was supplying Celtic kits i would 100% still try and get used in friendly matches still) and also the simple design on the shirt off rotating the hoops 90 degrees at the collar 2 armpit borderline so that they are a more seamless transition to the traditional arm stripes I am shocked more hooped and striped teams haven’t copied since ?!? …… my only explanation is this was the mid point off rangers decade off dominance possibly ?