Next seasons kit manufacturer - Castore

[NewClaret]

Gone down well on the instagram post judging by the comments..

I saw them.

Think a lot are from opposition fans. Castore is clearly a damaged brand after the quality issues last year.

Equally though agree with Jamesy that this years kits are pretty criminal so those fans won’t be looking at it from the perspective of the dross we’ve been served up by Umbro.

I’d still prefer adidas or Nike but would prefer Castore to Umbro assuming they have resolved their quality problems.

[Jamesy]

They've got a lot of stick from fans on social media regarding quality, stock, delivery, etc. I'm surprised they are winning contracts because I hear nothing but bad things.

As for Umbro, remember the club pick the designs; Umbro don't simply give it to them.

They do limit smaller clubs like ours though with “generic” offerings. Our second kit is essentially the same styling as Luton’s home kit.
Having said that, someone at the club is accepting these designs as you say.

[NewClaret]

Hope they can come up with something better than this season’s offerings then.

Spot on. Club need to have far higher expectations and input in to the kits because this years were terrible.

[ArmchairDetective]

Are we sure that the strip will have the Castore brand?

Castore announced yesterday that they had purchased the Umbro brand in the UK but would still be marketing Umbro

https://castore.com/blogs/press/castore ... ts-licence

Edit- apologies just seen the post from aggi

They will have the Castore branding. I think all three kits will be popular as long as there's none of the quality issues seen with other clubs.

[claret2018]

Never seen a Castore kit/bit of clothing I’ve liked. Chavtastic gymwear

[claptrappers_union]

I've changed the subject title to suit the announcement

[bumba]

They will have the Castore branding. I think all three kits will be popular as long as there's none of the quality issues seen with other clubs.

Have you seen the kits?
I don't mind the castore kits Villa and Newcastle have had looks wise, much better than any Umbro have done us bar last season. Villas away kits are nice this year hopefully they produce a more unique home kit instead of the traditional

[ArmchairDetective]

Have you seen the kits?

Seems I've already said too much

[Jamesy]

Never seen a Castore kit/bit of clothing I’ve liked. Chavtastic gymwear

Chavtastic gymwear.

[burnmark]

Spot on. Club need to have far higher expectations and input in to the kits because this years were terrible.

Someone at the club designs them, or at least they did. They are then produced by Umbro and await approval from Senior Management and first team manager.

[NewClaret]

Have you seen the kits?
I don't mind the castore kits Villa and Newcastle have had looks wise, much better than any Umbro have done us bar last season. Villas away kits are nice this year hopefully they produce a more unique home kit instead of the traditional

Agree with this. All the Castore kits I have seen are nice.

Only point I would make is that they’re all quite plain and simple. I don’t mind that but do hope we have at least one that’s a retro/redesigned/younger look (like last years home) as my kids always much prefer those.

[claret2018]

Chavtastic gymwear.

That’s awful.

[Jamesy]

That’s awful.

It’s all subjective pal.

[Tribesmen]

Well that's just nafff as Castore are just that , keep your money lads .

The funny thing is that the quality of the fake Irish tops are better than the real thing and that's just the start of things you are going to get with Castore .

I will not be spending my cash on any of there gear .

[BigGaz]

There is no better way for these pigs to ingratiate their selves with the claret support and belay any I'll will towards this appointment by producing the following:

Simple Claret shirt with blue collar
Simple Blue sleeves with claret trim
Simple white shorts with claret trim
Hooped claret and blue socks

Then for the away kit, the exact same except with white as the predominate colour with a claret trim instead.

All will be forgiven.

[1989_claret]

Someone at the club designs them, or at least they did. They are then produced by Umbro and await approval from Senior Management and first team manager.

Someone at the club hasn't designed next seasons.

[Rileybobs]

There is no better way for these pigs to ingratiate their selves with the claret support and belay any I'll will towards this appointment by producing the following:

Simple Claret shirt with blue collar
Simple Blue sleeves with claret trim
Simple white shorts with claret trim
Hooped claret and blue socks

Then for the away kit, the exact same except with white as the predominate colour with a claret trim instead.

All will be forgiven.

We hear a lot about a desire for hooped socks, but I think the reason we don't have them is that it heavily restricts the colour that opposition socks can be.

[NewClaret]

It’s all subjective pal.

It is because I like it too

[Raconteur]

They will have the Castore branding. I think all three kits will be popular as long as there's none of the quality issues seen with other clubs.

Yes i know. That post is from back in March.

I just don't like the quality, especially with the price point of £65-£70 for an adult shirt.
Due to the quality, Newcastle and Villa have exited the contract early and moved to Adidas. Even Charlton and Mansfield are trying to get out of the contract due to all the issues.

[Raconteur]

They do limit smaller clubs like ours though with “generic” offerings. Our second kit is essentially the same styling as Luton’s home kit.
Having said that, someone at the club is accepting these designs as you say.

Would you say these are generic?

[Jamesy]

Would you say these are generic?

I’m saying our yellow away shirt is same as Luton’s but different colour way. The one with floodlights on is an original and one of the cheapest looking shirts you could clap eyes on.
Last year’s home shirt was indeed a classic then they followed it up with this years awful shirt.
Umbro do a lot of generic styles if you look at other league clubs.

[agreenwood]

Thank **** for the announcement this afternoon.

I was beginning to worry there’d be nowt fresh to moan about.

Tuck in lads. Tuck in. The trough is full again.

[Rileybobs]

Has our fanbase ever been so disengaged from the club's kit manufacturer?

[bumba]

Seems I've already said too much

Traditional or something retro/fresh?

[Jamesy]

Has our fanbase ever been so disengaged from the club's kit manufacturer?

I’m happy to be with Castore. Looking forward to some decent kits.

[Raconteur]

I’m saying our yellow away shirt is same as Luton’s but different colour way. The one with floodlights on is an original and one of the cheapest looking shirts you could clap eyes on.
Last year’s home shirt was indeed a classic then they followed it up with this years awful shirt.
Umbro do a lot of generic styles if you look at other league clubs.

So it is confirmed that we have not just been limited to generic designs as proven with previous years strips.

[turbo5]

Might give buying a shirt a miss this year and treat myself to a Twix and a pint at half time for one match with the money saved

[NewClaret]

Has our fanbase ever been so disengaged from the club's kit manufacturer?

[Jamesy]

So it is confirmed that we have not just been limited to generic designs as proven with previous years strips.

Are you just looking for an argument? I didn’t say all Umbro kits were generic if you read my post.

[NewClaret]

I’m saying our yellow away shirt is same as Luton’s but different colour way. The one with floodlights on is an original and one of the cheapest looking shirts you could clap eyes on.
Last year’s home shirt was indeed a classic then they followed it up with this years awful shirt.
Umbro do a lot of generic styles if you look at other league clubs.

Agree with this on Umbro. Too hit and miss and too much crossover with other clubs especially in the training gear.

What I’ll never understand is why we don’t get fans involved in kit designs. Manufacturer & club could come up with 2 for concepts for each kit and put them to a fan vote as part of the decision.

They’re the ones buying them so why not check they like what’s being designed? Presumably they’d sell more.

Or even do that for home & away and make the third kits a designed in house.

Would be a great way to engage with the fans but don’t think any clubs do it so must be a reason why not.

[ClaretTony]

Castore bought Umbro, so likely its just a company name and logo change. Wouldnt surprise me if the quality and designs will be along the same lines as what we are used to.

I don’t think it’s the case. I think this deal was done some time ago.

[Chester Perry]

I don’t think it’s the case. I think this deal was done some time ago.

A parting gift from Mark Thompson perhaps?

for those who don't understand the connection see the 1st page of this thread

[durhamclaret]

My Newcastle supporting pals suggest that if you want a small shirt you should order an XL

[GetIntoEm]

the price will go up 24% for kids tops, i refuse to buy it.

(then i'll buy it anyway, but by gosh i wont be happy about it)

[Jamesy]

My Newcastle supporting pals suggest that if you want a small shirt you should order an XL

Don’t the Newcastle shirts have a different cut to them to allow for the customary Geordie belly?

[agreenwood]

I don’t think it’s the case. I think this deal was done some time ago.

I got told by someone I know in the industry last September. Been done ages.

[ClaretTony]

I got told by someone I know in the industry last September. Been done ages.

It was that long back I found out and then had it confirmed around Christmas period

[Tricky Trevor]

I know it will be sacrilege on here but I prefer Hammers Claret to ours. Slightly darker, similar to coolclarets mock up strip on page 1.
I don't know how much we make on kit and ancillary contracts but I hope it’s a lot otherwise we should design our own and have them manufactured wherever, China, Thailand, India.

[NewClaret]

I know it will be sacrilege on here but I prefer Hammers Claret to ours. Slightly darker, similar to coolclarets mock up strip on page 1.
I don't know how much we make on kit and ancillary contracts but I hope it’s a lot otherwise we should design our own and have them manufactured wherever, China, Thailand, India.

Not sure what hammers claret is, but I definitely prefer the darker claret in the old kit here:

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

"This partnership sees Castore set to provide expertly engineered precision sportswear that uplifts both players and fans alike"

Part of the bull that accompanies the announcement

Does 'uplift' mean there will be built in support for my man boobs?

[ClaretTony]

Does 'uplift' mean there will be built in support for my man boobs?

I can only assume so

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Recruitment
Tactics
Player positions
Set Plays
Pies
Tea
Away Fans in Home stands
Season ticket pricing

Sort these basics out before you start buggering around with your precision sportswear

[dandeclaret]

Has our fanbase ever been so disengaged from the club's kit manufacturer?

Every time it changes.... it's the same as every kit launch, starts with a huge wave of "Don't like it, looks like a Villa / West Ham etc shirt", don't like the collar, don't like the socks, don't like the away kit"..... then in time, they mostly become classics.

[burnmark]

Every time it changes.... it's the same as every kit launch, starts with a huge wave of "Don't like it, looks like a Villa / West Ham etc shirt", don't like the collar, don't like the socks, don't like the away kit"..... then in time, they mostly become classics.

The annual new kit bingo. You missed ‘it looks like a training shirt.’

[Pickles]

The bar is exceptionally low because all three of the kits this season are really bad.

[123EasyasBFC]

Regardless of the kit manufacturer, no way there can be 3 worst kits next season than the ones we came up with this season

[123EasyasBFC]

Have the FAB seen the new kit? Don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned anywhere if they have

[burnmark]

Have the FAB seen the new kit? Don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned anywhere if they have

Yes they have according to a member on Twitter

[123EasyasBFC]

Yes they have according to a member on Twitter

I was being slightly sarcastic because it seems like every FAB member has mentioned they have seen it

[nyclaret]

Hopefully they bring back white shorts and hoop socks