If you’re a football fan, or even if you’re not, you’ve probably noticed over the years that teams don’t just have a home shirt and away shirt. Most of the time, they have an extra kit, a third kit. With premier league teams often having long-term traditions when it comes to football team colours, you may be wondering why an extra kit is added? Is it really necessary?
In this article, we will explore what third kits are, answer the question ‘why do football teams have a third kit?’, and explain when third kits are worn. Let’s get into it!
What is a third kit in football?
Every season, professional teams release three different kits, a home kit, an away kit and a third kit. Each are worn on different occasions and for different reasons, and essentially, the third kit is an extra ‘just in case’ option for teams to wear, ensuring that there are no clashes in colours during matches.
The three different kits are worn on these occasions:
- Home kit: Worn when teams are playing in their home stadium
- Away kit: Worn when teams are playing away at another team’s stadium
- Third kit: Worn by teams when necessary to avoid clashing with the other team’s kit
The third kit makes it easier to distinguish between the two teams on the pitch, especially in situations where both the home and away kits could potentially cause confusion.
Why do football teams have a third kit?
The main reason that football teams have a third kit is to avoid their colours looking too similar to those of the other team, which can cause confusion for both players and fans. For example, if a team’s away kit features dark pink and white stripes, and they were playing an opposition team that had a red and white striped home kit, wearing the away kit could result in a clash that makes it difficult to differentiate between players.
In these cases, the third kit provides a totally different colour scheme, making sure that there is no confusion. This added layer of preparation helps to make it easier for everyone involved to follow the action without any mix-ups.
When do teams wear their third kit?
A third kit isn’t worn as often as a home or an away kit. However, they are important to ensure that spectators, players and the referee can distinguish between the two teams. The FA has set rules to ensure this is possible:
- The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other and the match officials
- Each goalkeeper must wear colours that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials
Undershirts must be:
- a single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve; or
- a pattern/colours which exactly replicate(s) the shirt sleeve
- Undershorts/tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts – players of the same team must wear the same colour.
In terms of who gets to wear what kit and what point, the FA has also set out a priority list. Oftentimes, the home kit is the preferred kit, so the priority list is as the below:
- First Priority: The home team’s outfield players (everyone except the goalkeeper) get to wear their regular home kit.
- Second Priority: The visiting team’s outfield players choose their kit next, making sure that they don’t clash with the home team’s uniforms.
- Third Priority: The home team’s goalkeeper picks their kit next, ensuring it doesn’t clash with the uniforms of the outfield players from both teams.
- Fourth Priority: The visiting team’s goalkeeper then picks their kit, making sure it’s different from everyone else’s uniforms already chosen.
However, there aren’t any set rules from the FA as to what constitutes a kit clash. For example, sometimes teams will wear their third kit, even if their home and away shirts don’t clash with the opposition. However, it may be that the shirt isn’t the problem, but the shorts and socks are too similar – which can make it more difficult for referees and linesmen to do their jobs effectively.
Are third kits necessary for grassroots clubs?
Designing a new third kit every season is an added expense, one that grassroots teams might struggle to afford. Luckily, because the event of a kit clash is rare, the rules for kit clashes don’t tend to be as strict in non-professional leagues, and so it isn’t mandatory for grassroots clubs to have a third kit.
That being said though, if your grassroots football team is concerned about kit clashes, but doesn’t have the additional funds required to design and manufacture a whole new kit, using kits from previous seasons can be a good alternative. As long as the old kit is easily distinguishable from your current home and away kits, there are no rules against grassroots football teams using old kits as their third kit.
Another way to avoid kit clashes is to invest in different shorts and socks. Grassroots teams typically play in black or white shorts and socks. In order to differentiate your team from your opposition, coloured shorts or socks can be an easier and cheaper option than a whole new kit.
How Gift of Kit can help
If you do decide to design a third kit, or you want help funding your home and away kits, Gift of Kit can help you.
At Gift of Kit, our mission is to support grassroots sports clubs by linking them with businesses that offer free sponsored kits, as well as to attract investment for these local teams.
Through our sponsorship program, we’ve provided over £4 million worth of sponsored kits to grassroots clubs, thanks to global partners like Starling Bank and Sky Sports.
If you’d like to learn more or see how Gift of Kit can assist your team, please register your interest or reach out to us today!