Kits Out

A pictorial history of Northern Ireland football kits...

BLUE (1882-1931)
1902		Shirt worn by Andy Gara in 1902 (National Football Museum). Blue was Ireland's regular choice of shirt colour for nearly 50 years.
1919-1931 (typically sourced from the Athletic Stores)	(worn by Patsy Gallagher)	Shirt designs evolved comparatively slowly in football's early decades. The style shown was the last blue shirt to be worn by Ireland before green was adopted as the first choice colour in 1931. Green shirts were used by Ireland Amateurs and were also available for matches against Scotland. There is evidence that they were also used in other matches.
BUKTA/UMBRO (1931-1974)
1931-1949	In 1931 Ireland’s first choice colour was switched to green to avoid the regular clash with Scotland who wore navy/blue. At the same time the shirt badge was switched to a sprig of shamrocks. For many years the shirt was virtually identical to that worn by the Irish Free State.  Debut: 19-09-1931, Scotland (Away) Lost 1-3	There were slight variations in the collar design. In the 1930s there were usually two visible buttons with a three button design appearing briefly through 1937 (above). After WWII the butons were generally concealed (left).
1950-1953		The Celtic cross badge was re-introduced in 1950. This style of shirt was worn for the first time in the last official match for an "All-Ireland XI" before FIFA barred the selection of players for both Irelands. Debut: vs Wales, 8 March 1950 (Away) 0-0 Draw
1954-1964	1954-1957 (worn by Eddie McMorran) Reportedly inspired by the "Magnificent Magyars" who destroyed England at Wembley, many British teams adopted lighter-weight "European"-style shirts - and Northern Ireland was no exception.	1957-1964 (believed to be worn by Bobby Braithwaite vs Wales in 1964) In late 1957 the Irish FA introduced a more modern badge. As with all Northern Ireland shirts through to the late 1970s, white versions were available, but were only ever used by the youth team (paired with the home shorts and socks) The 1958 World Cup kit was noted as being supplied by SS Moore while the Bukta / Athletic Stores label above is from a 1964 player jersey 1964 George Best shirt at the National Football Museum Debut: vs Scotland, 5/10/1957
1964-1974	1964-1967 (worn by Billy McCullough vs England in 1966 [Roy Cathcart]) Debut: 14-11-1964, Switzerland (away) Lost 3-4	1967-1974 Home (worn by Dave Clements in 1967 [NASL Jerseys]) 1967-1974 Home (believed worn by George Best) After a decade the Northern Ireland badge left it's box. Initially a patch was sewn on to the jersey before the badge was directly embroidered. 1971 George Best shirt at the National Football Museum Debut: Record:
UMBRO (1974-1977)
1974-1977	1974-1976 (worn by Allan Hunter c.1975) Manufacturers logos appeared on the shirt for the first time in the mid-1970s but this shirt was also worn without the Umbro logo. Debut: vs Scotland, 11 May 1974	1976-1977 (worn by Allan Hunter vs Scotland in 1976) Notes: Admiral turned kit styling norms upside down in the mid-1970s, witness the kits worn by England and Wales. Umbro's last Northern Ireland kit of the 1970s certainly tried to follow suit. Usually worn with white shorts, the alternatives were black which broke the green trend of the previous decade.
ADIDAS (1977-1990)
1977-1982	1977-1982 Home 1979-1980 Home Adidas became Northern Ireland's kit suppliers in late 1977. A slight variation on this with a white V-neck rather than green was worn during the 1979/80 season.  It is amazing to look back today and consider that this shirt (in the two variations) was worn over forty times. At Espana 82 embroidery was used for the first time. Debut: vs  Record: Games: 44 (tbc)	The 'away' kit, Northern Ireland's first in modern times, made its debut against the Republic of Ireland at Windsor Park (at home!) in November 1979. The only other senior international match it was seen in was a pre-Espana 82 friendly against France in Paris where it was paired with white shorts and socks. Debut: 21-11-1979 vs Republic of Ireland (home) Won 1-0 Record: Games: 2. W: 1, D: 0, L: 1. The pin-striped away shirt was introduced for the 1982 World Cup and was used as late as 1983. Debut: 17-06-1982 vs Yugoslavia (neutral) Drew 0-0 Record: Games: 4
1983-1986	1983 Home 1983-1986 Home Debut: 28-05-1983, England (Home) Drew 0-0 Record: Games: 20 Notes: Adidas released a new Northern Ireland kit for the May 1983 British Championships.  At the end of 1983 green trim was added to the collar, these were used through to early 1986. (top shirt worn by Jimmy Nicholl vs Wales, 1983) 1983 Mal Donaghy shirt at National Football Museum	1985-1986 Away The 'away' kit seems to have been worn only once, in a World Cup '86 warm-up match with France along with white shorts and socks. However, it had been featured in a catalogue at least a year earlier along with green shorts. Debut: 26-02-1986, France (Away) Drew 0-0 Record: Games: 1 (1 draw)
1986-1990	1986-1990 Home Adidas' contract with the IFA ran through to the 1990 World Cup Finals. These kits were the last to see as much as four years 'service'. The home and away shorts and socks were inter-changeable. The Irish FA badge was redesigned and featured the words "Northern Ireland" along the centre for the first time. Debut: 12-06-1986, Brazil (Neutral) Lost 0-3 Record: Games: 21	1986-1990 Away This new away kit was introduced alongside the home kit for the Mexico 1986 World Cup Finals. Used in two of the three matches Northern Ireland played in Mexico, it had only a few outings thereafter. Debut: 03-06-1986, Algeria (Neutral) Drew 1-1 Record: Games: 3
UMBRO (1990-1994)
1990-1992	1990-1992 Home Umbro replaced Adidas in 1990 and introduced these eye-catching kits in green and blue. The early 1990s saw football kits evolve into fashion wear and bold geometric patterns were in vogue for all the leading manufacturers. Worn with white shorts and green socks (which really didn't match). A purple version of shirt (a template known as "St Etienne") was worn by Latvia against Northern Ireland in 1993, a year after we'd retired it. Debut: 12-09-1990, Yugoslavia (Home) Lost 0-2 Record: 12 games (Won 3, Drew 5, Lost 4)	1990-1992 Away After nearly 60 years the Irish FA were able to field a team wearing blue again. Worn with navy shorts and socks. It appears to have never been worn by the senior international team, but was worn by the coaching staff during the 1994 US Tour. Debut: n/a Record: Games: 0
1992-1994	1992-1994 Home A second set of stylised kits by Umbro brought stripes on both kits. The home kit was the same design as Nottingham Forest's kit Debut: 09-09-1992, Albania (Home) Won 3-0 Record: 12 games (Won 7, Drew 2, Lost 3)	1993-1994 Away The 'away' kit remained predominantly blue in colour in a template also used by Celtic. Debut: 31-03-1993, Republic of Ireland (Away) Lost 0-3 Record: 3 games (Lost 3)
1994 (unworn)	1994 Home	Kit released in 1994 but never used as Umbro’s contract with the Irish FA had expired. Although unworn, there were a number of slight variations produced for the replica market.
ASICS (1994-1998)
1994-1996	1994-1996 Home A change of kit manufacturer to Asics in 1994 brought these much more 'reserved' efforts, and a return to a white 'away' kit. Debut: 07-09-1994, Portugal (Home) Lost 1-2 Record: Games: 11	1994-1996 Away A change of kit manufacturer to Asics in 1994 brought these much more 'reserved' efforts, and a return to a white 'away' kit. Debut: 29-03-1995, Republic of Ireland (Away) Drew 1-1 Record: Games: 2
1996-1998	1996-1998 Home After their safe first efforts, Asics’ second Northern Ireland kits hugely divided opinion. This quartered shirt was the first time that blue had featured so heavily in a Northern Ireland home kit since the 1930s. The shirt was won with white shorts and green socks. Debut: 29-05-1996, Germany (Home) Drew 1-1 Record: 14 games (3 wins, 6 draws, 5 defeats)	1996-1998 Away Debut: 22-01-1997, Italy (Away) Lost 0-2 Record: 2 games (1 win, 1 defeat) Notes: Perhaps even more controversial than the home kit was a similarly quarter-patterned away kit in red and white. Although the colours mirrored the Northern Ireland flag (which brought calls for their use as a home kit), many felt that it was too much of a break with tradition. The shirt was worn with white shorts and socks.
OLYMPIC SPORTSWEAR (1998-1999)
1998-1999	1998-1999 Home Debut: 03-06-1998, Spain (Away) Lost 1-2 Record: 7 games (1 win, 3 draws, 3 defeats) Notes: Olympic Sport replaced Asics but kept a similar colour scheme. This garish shirt was the company’s standard template at the time and was also sported by Dundee United and Rushden & Diamonds. Normally worn with the usual white shorts and green socks, navy shorts were also made available and used against Turkey in September 1998. A range of training gear and leisure wear was widely available. The Irish FA’s contract with Olympic Sports was cut short in the summer of 1999 due to the firm’s financial difficulties.	1998-1999 Away Debut: 29-05-1999, Republic of Ireland (Away) Won 1-0 Record: 1 game (1 win) Notes: Olympic Sport’s away offering used the same template as the home kit and retained the same red and white colouring as the last Asics away kit but with added silver-grey. The shorts and socks were red as rather than the white used with the Asics version. Used just once for Northern Ireland’s match against the Republic of Ireland in a fundraiser for the victims of the Omagh Bomb.
PATRICK (1999-2004)
1999-2002	1999-2002 Home Debut: 18-08-1999, France (Home) Lost 0-1 Record: 18 games (4 wins, 2 draws, 12 defeats) Notes: When Northern Ireland stepped out for their glamour friendly against world champions France in August 1999 most fans were surprised to see this new retro-style shirt. Patrick had quietly stepped in to replace the financially troubled Olympic Sport as Northern Ireland’s kit supplier, introducing one of the plainest but most popular shirts in years. Worn with white shorts and green socks, though the navy away shorts were used for matches in Denmark and Malta.	2000-2002 Away 1999-2002 Away Kit (Patrick) Debut: 28-03-2000, Malta (Away) Won 3-0 Record: 1 game (1 win) Notes: Navy was used as Northern Ireland’s away colour for the first time since the mid-nineties. The kit also featured hefty amounts of white and green trim. Worn with navy shorts and socks, while the shirt was used just once, the shorts were paired with the home kit on two further occasions.
2002-2004	2002-2004 Home Debut: 13-02-2002, Poland (Neutral) lost 1-4 Record: 13 games (1 win, 7 draws, 5 defeats) Notes: Patrick’s second Northern Ireland home kit introduced navy panels on the sides but proved hard to find in the shops! The kit coincided with the infamous goal-drought, Steve Lomas’ goal against Poland on its debut being Northern Ireland’s last for 1298 minutes! Goals were however scored in each of the shirts last four appearances. Worn with white shorts and green socks.	2002-2004 Away Debut: 17-04-2002, Spain (Home) Lost 0-5 Record: 7 games (2 wins, 5 defeats) Notes: A very plain white shirt which harked back to Northern Ireland’s early-eighties kit. Made from a strange shiny fabric, Northern Ireland elected to wear it at in a home friendly against Spain 20 years on from that night in Valencia. Sadly the result in a rainy Belfast was a demoralising 5-0 defeat. Worn with green shorts and white socks.
UMBRO (2004-2012)
2004-2006	2004-2006 Home Kit (Umbro) Debut: 18-08-2004, Switzerland (Away) Drew 0-0 Record: 13 games (3 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats) Notes: Umbro returned as Northern Ireland’s shirt manufacturers after a decade long break. They introduced this highly popular, but figure hugging, kit with a large navy stripe on the shoulders. Normally worn with the traditional white shorts and green socks, the green away shorts were worn against Austria in October 2005. While the kit was manufactured by Umbro, the Irish FA's deal was actually with JJB Sports who sourced the kit and team wear.	Debut: 08-09-2004, Wales (Away) Drew 2-2 Record: 1 game (1 draw) Notes: A plain white shirt complemented the home kit well and proved popular with fans. Worn with green shorts and white socks.
2005-2006	2005 Anniversary Kit (Umbro) Debut: 04-06-2005, Germany (Home) Lost 1-4 Record: 2 games (1 draw, 1 defeat) Notes: Released to mark the Irish FA’s 125th birthday. It featured an old-style IFA crest with a harp in the centre, lace-up collar and in a much darker shade of green than Northern Ireland had previously worn. The shirt was worn just twice in “Gala Friendlies” against Germany and Portugal arranged to celebrate the Anniversary. Worn with white shorts and dark green socks.	2006-2007 Away Kit (Umbro) Debut: 07-10-2006, Denmark (Away) Drew 0-0 Record: 1 game (1 draw) Notes: A new shade of blue appeared for the Northern Ireland away kit, dividing opinion among fans. Like the home kit released at the same time the shirt featured a “shadow” IFA crest. Worn with navy shorts and socks which were an odd-match. Like the previous Northern Ireland away kit it was worn just once.
2006-2008	2006-2008 Home Kit (Umbro) Debut: 21-05-2006, Uruguay (Neutral) Lost 0-1 Record: 15 games (8 wins, 2 draws, 5 defeats) Notes: Released prior to Northern Ireland’s summer 2006 tour of the USA, the new home kit was less tight-fitting than its predecessor and featured much less navy. A shadow effect IFA badge appeared on the back and the Umbro badge on the front was placed high up to facilitate a number beneath. The number on the back also featured a small IFA crest at its base. Usually worn with white shorts and, for the first time, white socks. Green shorts and socks were also available.	2007-2008 Away Kit (Umbro) Debut: 08-09-2007, Latvia (Away) Lost 0-1 Record: 3 games (1 draw, 2 defeats) Notes: Based on the classic 1982 World Cup away kit and to coincide with the visit to Spain 25 years after the famous 1-0 win. The green stripes had a blue shadow and the Umbro diamonds featured heavily as trim. Worn with green shorts and white socks
2008-2010	2008-2010 Home Kit (Umbro) Debut: 06-09-2008, Slovakia (Away) Lost 4-2 Record: 14 games (4 wins, 3 draws, 7 defeats) Notes: Released on 5 September 2008 based on a standard Umbro template with a “false collar”. Worn with white shorts, though both the green shorts from the 2007-2009 away kit and navy shorts from the 2009-2010 away kit were also used. Green socks were re-introduced. For the shirt’s first match the Northern Ireland players wore squad names and numbers rather than 1-11 but this practice lasted just one match.	2009-2010 Away Kit (Umbro) Debut: 12-08-2009, Israel (Home) Drew 1-1 Record: 3 games (1 draw, 2 defeats) Notes: Released on 22 August 2009 and based on another standard Umbro template also used by (amongst others) Sweden. The first time a white/navy combo has been used by Northern Ireland. Worn with navy shorts and white socks.
2010-2012	2010-2012 Home Kit (Umbro) Debut: 11-08-2010, Montenegro (Away) Lost 0-2 Record: Games 14 (2 wins, 4 draws, 8 defeats) Notes: Unveiled by Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody during their 5th June 2010 concert at Ward Park, Bangor. Although similar to several other Umbro shirts, for Northern Ireland the shadow stripes echo those on the 1983-1986 Adidas shirt and the round collar that of the shirts worn in the 60s and 70s. Usually worn with white shorts and green socks, on several occasions it has been paired with the navy away shorts.	2011-2012 Away Kit (Umbro) Debut: 24-05-2011, Rep. Ireland (Away) Lost 0-5 Record: Games 3. (Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 3) Notes: Released 27th May 2011 and worn with green shorts and white socks. A standard Umbro template (also used by Crusaders, Ballymena United and Rangers) it has been popular with fans but disastrous in terms of on-field results.
ADIDAS (2012-DATE)
2012-2013	2012-2013 Home Kit (Adidas) Debut: 15-08-2012, Finland (Home) Drew 3-3 Record: Games 8. (Won 1, Drew 4, Lost 3) Notes: In December 2011 it was announced that the Irish FA had agreed a four year deal, worth in excess of £500,000, with Adidas to supply the Northern Ireland kit. It sees the return of a manufacturer who kitted out the team during the 1980s golden-age. Press release	2012-2013 Away Kit (Adidas) Debut: 07-09-2012, Russia (Away) Lost 0-2 Record: Games 4. (Won 0, Drew 2, Lost 2) Notes: Adidas introduced a new colour to the Northern Ireland away palette - black. The kit features matching black shorts and socks.
2013-2014	2013-2014 Home Kit (Adidas) Debut: 15-11-2013, Turkey (Away) Record: Games 4. (Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 2) Notes: In November 2013 the Irish FA announced a new retail partnership with JD Sports who would exclusively sell all Adidas official replica and training-wear products. The shirt, launched with the slogan "all in or nothing", is a darker olive green than has been used in a regular home kit before and features lime green trim rather than the usual white and/or blue. It is paired with white shorts and green socks, but was worn with the away green shorts in Greece in October 2014. Press release	Debut: 05-03-2014, Cyprus (away) Record: Games 3 (Won 1, Drew 1, Lost 1) Notes: JD Sports revealed Adidas' new Northern Ireland away kit in February 2014. It is in a standard template and is paired with dark green shorts and white socks
2014-2015	2014-2015 Home Kit (Adidas) Debut: 13-11-2014 vs Romania (away) Record: Games: 6 (Won 3, Drew, 2, Lost 1) Notes: After just a year in dark green, Northern Ireland returned to a more traditional shade, trimmed with mesh. As usual, the shirt is paired with white shorts and green socks. Press release	2015 Away Kit (Adidas) Debut: 25-03-2015 vs Scotland (away) Record: Games: 3 (Won 0, Drew 2, Lost 1) Notes: The quick fire release of kits by adidas/JD Sports continued in February 2015 as a new two-tone blue shirt was unveiled. It is to be paired with blue shorts and socks. Preview Video
2015-2019	2015-2017 Home Kit (Adidas)  Debut: 13-11-2015 vs Latvia (home) Record: Games: 15 (Won 9, Drew 1, Lost 5) Notes: The release of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 kit was met with howls of derision and a Facebook campaign to get it changed. Blue was re-introduced to the shirt to the largest extent since the late-1990s. The contrasting blue band across the chest looks odd when compared to the navy sleeves. As normal, the shirt is paired with white shorts and green socks. The kit maintains the one-year release cycle and will again be available exclusively via JD Sports. Irish FA Announcement	2015-2017 Away 2018-2019 Third Within a few days of the release of the green/blue home kit the 2016 away kit was unveiled. Although in the same template, the colouring is much more traditional and the overall design was met with a sigh of relief. The white shirt is paired with the traditional green socks and white socks, which should also allow for an easy mix-and-match with the home kit if required.  In a match against Azerbaijan in June 2017 it was paired with the "home" white shorts, meaning Northern Ireland wore all-white in a match for the first time since Mexico 86. Although seemingly retired alongside the green version at the end of 2017, the shirt was called into action when Northern Ireland faced blue-clad teams in competitive fixtures away from home and the successor light blue away kit was deemed to clash and the requirement for light vs dark was enforced. Debut: 24-03-2016 vs Wales (away) Record: Games:
2017-	In November 2017 went for a look inspired by the 1982 World Cup kit. Once again the kit was available only through JD Sports with a man's shirt priced at £60.  Paired with white shorts and green socks. Debut: 09-11-2017 vs Switzerland (home) Record:	Another colour has been added to the Northern Ireland kit pallet - light blue - and once again there is dissension among the fans. The shirt is paired with blue (turquoise?) shorts and light blue socks. Debut: 24-03-2018 vs South Korea (home) Record:
2019-	Worn with white shorts and green socks with blue turn-overs	Advertised with navy shorts and mint socks, but matching white shorts and socks were also available. Leaked images originally had a mint rather than navy collar. Debut:
2022 (womens)	In April 2022 a new kit was released specifically for the Women’s team to coincide with their qualification for Euro 2022. The kit is paired with green shorts as a default, which is a first. Green socks are marketed as first choice, however white socks were worn in early outings.	An all-white away kit was unveiled on the eve of the tournament, and was worn with alternative black shorts for a 4-1 defeat by Norway - Northern Ireland Women's first ever match at a major tournament. Black shorts and socks were worn in the next match against Austria. Replicas of both kits were available in both female and male "cuts".
2022-2023	Taking inspiration from the mid-90s Asics quartered shirt. Launched with white socks, it was worn with green socks on its debut against Kosovo. Debut: 24/09/22 vs Kosovo (h)	A yellow away kit for the first time, not taking inspiration from the "Not Brazil" song, but instead the famous Harland & Wolff cranes, Samsom and Goliath.  Advertised with black socks, on first use against San Marino the socks were yellow. Debut: vs San Marino
2023 (womens)		Light blue "Sky Tint" with a print of the Giant's Causeway. Paired with dark green "Tech Forest" shorts and white socks.
2024-	Vivid green with stripes that feature a soundwave of the Windsor fans singing! Launched with "Collegiate Green" shorts and white socks. White shorts are also available. Presumably alternative socks will also appear.	White with an ice-green cross that features the same soundwave as the home jersey. The adidas stripes and shorts are in Wild Teal. The white socks feature a different colour Adidas logo to the home socks.

See also:

• Caps
• Badges
• Results by Shirt
• Goalkeeper Shirts
• Kit Graphics
• Goalkeeper Kit Graphics
• Alternative Kits
• Numbers History

_______________________________________________

Reproductions of the older shirts are available from a number of shops, such as the Irish FA, Toffs, Score Draw, Copa etc (whose sites have been raided for some of the images), and originals can be found on eBay. The current kit is available from JD Sports.

More pictures of old Northern Ireland shirts can be found at Old Football Shirts and at Historical Kits.

With thanks to Roy Cathcart, Alan Crossley and Francis Heaney.