Man United, Liverpool launch new kits

New kits are just part of something that a new season brings. But it is still one factor that every fan anticipates with as much interest as a new signing. Whether it’s Manchester United and their plans for a retro kit, Liverpool with a new emblem or Cardiff City suddenly incorporating a dragon in their crest, a kit is something that fans associate with pride, heritage and culture. With kit sales adding huge profits to the revenue of a club, Manchester United and Liverpool have already unveiled their home attires for next season. [caption id=“attachment_307419” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“A screen grab showing Ferdinand speaking to manutd.com about the new kit. manutd.com”]  [/caption] United have incorporated Manchester’s famous gingham check. The city’s popular mills made this design and it will now adorn probably the most famous football brand from the country. Nike’s press release says: “The tonal gingham in traditional and iconic red gives the home shirt a bold new look. The black v-neck collar gives the shirt a contemporary look. The inner back neck graphic on the shirt reads, ‘Forged in Industry, Striving for Glory’; paying tribute to the cities industrial past but also the club’s hard-working ethos.” As United go on a path to pay homage to hard working Mancunians,  Liverpool have rejigged their club crest and shifted it back to the one that brought them success in the 70s and 80s. But as this  BBC report says, it hasn’t quite gone down well with the Hillsborough families. The justice flames on the club’s current logo honours those who died in the Hillsborough disaster, but have now been moved to the back of the shirt. What has angered the families is not the fact that the club has made the changes. What angers them is Liverpool’s decision to consult only one Hillsborough support group. A Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) statement reads: “We can confirm that no bereaved families of the HJC were contacted or consulted. The first we were aware of this was via the minutes of the Supporters’ Committee March meeting. Once again LFC has chosen to ignore the HJC and their families.” The new kit will be made by American company Warrior Sports, who have signed a 25 million pound a year contract with the Anfield club. It replaces their deal with Adidas. Meanwhile, Cardiff City’s owners had proposed changing the club’s colours from blue to red and replace their bluebird badge with a dragon. But after strong protest against the idea, the plans have been ditched.