TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly

@tommyktufc

Over the last few years I’ve been relatively impressed with our kits for the upcoming seasons, whilst simple in design and the lack of a sponsor on the front of the shirt, the 1899 kits have looked smart and clean, as I’ll get into for one of those kits a bit later on. Sadly, Torquay’s latest attempt for the home strip is very disappointing and sums up my feelings about being a NLS club for the upcoming season. It had the potential to be an absolute classic, as you’ll read shortly,

I love a Yellow and White stripped kit, but this one is just confusing. The stripes aren’t really stripes and the South Devon sponsor looks far too small to me, although I’ll have to see it in person first before I slander it completely. The colours of the away strip work so much better and will be a shirt I purchase going forward ahead of the new season. It’s funny how colour variations make such a difference to deciding if a design is great or terrible. That said, all I really care about this season is promotion, whether it be as champions or via the play-offs, regardless my views on our kit designs. It may still grow on me, but that’s for another day.

It’s been hard to list my all time great Torquay United kits, but I’ve managed to rank my top five and I must say, we’ve had some absolute classics, so I suppose we can get away for having a rank one or two every now and then! Here’s my top 5 all time TUFC kits!

1) 22-23 3RD

The moment I gazed my eyes on the newly released Beetroot coloured 3rd kit, I knew I just needed to have it. It’s a shame that the club rarely played in it! Just like the home and away kit, it was a simple design, but done in a smart way that easily caught the eye of many of the Yellow Army. Released ahead of our FA Cup 1st Round tie against Derby County, It’s currently my gym shirt and will probably be the shirt of choice at home games next season (I’m afraid I have zero love for our new home shirt).

2) 2010-11 AWAY

Whilst it appears the club have gone with something different for this seasons kits, my next favourite kit was definitely different, but in a much more aesthetically pleasing way. A nice simple black strip with a cool stripe resembling a seagull flapping it’s wings (at least that I think!). It’s one that my mate Neil still wears predominately on away days whenever we’re together for a game. One shirt that I think would still look good if it was released for this season! Lovely stuff.

3) 2020-21 HOME

After a few years of going for a darker shade of Yellow, Nike produced a shirt that I needed to own the moment it was announced to the fans. Staying with the 1899 at the forefront of the shirt, the additions of black palm trees running down the middle of the shirt made it unique; I mean when you see Palm Trees, you immediately think of Torquay (Or at least you should!).

Not only did it look good, we played really good in it for most of the season. An excellent effort from Nike.

4) 1997-99 HOME

I’ve always enjoyed Super League’s efforts when it comes to designing a Torquay United kit and their first home kit design remains a firm favourite for me. Keeping elements of the previous seasons home strip, the blue stripes were adjusted and the Yellow brightened to produce an absolute banger of a kit. Two Blue thin stripes and a thicker one running down the middle made it look much smarter than previous years. I instantly think of Rodney Jack Jack Jack when I see this shirt. Well done Super League, you nailed this one brilliantly.

5) 1991-93 HOME

1991 was a heck of a year. It was the year I was born; Torquay were onto a winner with Matchwinner designing two lovely kits, the yellow and white stripped home kit and the delightfully looking purple kit. It’s hard for me to have to pick a preference between these two. Again, I love a kit with a collar. The home kit would be recreated again in 1999, 2000 and 2013. Can’t beat the original though. Honourable mention to the away kit that year as well. A beautiful purple strip.