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The New Kit

I.C.@G&NFC

By I.C.@G&NFC
in Ebbsfleet United Forum

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I.C.@G&NFC Newbie

I.C.@G&NFC

Posted
Posted

Before the Accrington game the new home and away kits were on display in the club shop, bearing the name of our new sponsors, Gladwish Land Sales. On entering the club shop the new kits were drawn to mine and my sons attention. Not noticing the sponsors name, I was under the impression that the shop was trying to off load a kit from years gone by, on the cheap. We left to get some refreshment and stood outside the club shop waiting for the teams to be announced.

All around us the only thing that could be heard was,'Have you seen the new kit?'

Surely not, we re-entered the club shop and there my worst fears were confirmed. The tatty old bits of rag pinned to the wall were the new kit.

A plain red crew neck shirt and tissue thin white shorts, that would not have looked out of place in Primarks £1 rejects bin. But worse, the away kit. Pale blue shirt and grass green shorts. I asked who was responsible for such abominations. Above the increasing rumble of disapproving voices the name of our Chief Executive, Glenn Aitkin was heard to of had a hand in the choice of kit. I don't know who said it, but if correct, then Glenn you don't know much about 'The Fleet'.

We have never, as far as I know, played in plain red home shirts. Red and black, red and white, yes. Did you come up with the away kit? What's wrong with the blue and white we already have? And as for the quality. Over the years as the club have slowly progressed up the divisions the quality of shirt has improved along with the football. The shirts on display now are cheap rubbish. I know the new sponsorship deal was pushed through quickly, and the agreement that the new shirts would bare our new sponsors name as soon as possible, but please Glenn, contact Jako, the shirts we have are the best yet. Where did you find the supplier, they are such poor quality I wouldn't take one if you were giving them away. And I advise other supporters to check them out first before purchasing them.

I also wonder if Andy and the team have seen them. I'd guess they haven't, but I'm sure you'll be told what to do with them.

 

I don't usually lose my cool, but I feel very strongly about this. If you or someone at the club has had a hand in the new kits, get it sorted. So far I have spent over £100 on shirts this season alone, and to see the crap that is being fobbbed off to us infuriates me. I only have the clubs best interests at heart, but don't take the paying punters for mugs. They won't buy those shirts.

 

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David Holden Newbie

David Holden

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The race is on to comply with the terms of the new record-breaking sponsorship deal for GNFC, which includes erecting advertising boards around the ground for Gladwish Land Sales and preparing new sponsored kit. Advertising boards are in the process of being manufacured. But the matter of kit has been a different issue.

Chief Executive Glenn Aitken explains:

"A condition of the sponsorship was that we change our away colours to sky blue shirts, green shorts and socks. No discussion. Take it or leave it. Frankly, for £163,000 we took it."

But questions have been raised about the change in style of shirt at this stage in the season. Aitken offered this explanation:

"Our kit suppliers JAKO have the best quality kit around, better than any other teamwear manufacturer. However, our current kit is due to be removed from their catalogue next year, well before the end of the sponsorship deal. It is prudent then to choose a kit that will be available throughout this period."

"Timing was against us in terms of choice. New JAKO designs will not be available until early 2004. The style we have ordered was introduced this year and was the only style that offered the sky blue option we needed to fulfil our obligations to our sponsor."

"As ever, choice of clothing is a matter of personal taste. We are aware that the style is a diversion from recent designs. But people are already suggesting that the replica version will be more wearable as a leisure shirt than previous styles, because of its round neck design."

 

 

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Unrecognized Genius Newbie

Unrecognized Genius

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Personally, I'm all in favour of plain red shirts, which I'm sure is what we were wearing during the first bit of success I witnessed: winning the 74/75 Southern League 1st Division (South)Championship. Those were the days when men were men, shirts had no girly frilly bits to them, Tony Weston was in defence & opposition forwards were nervous.

 

Can't abide the white or black additions (the worst ever being ten years or so ago when, as someone remarked our shirts looked as if a flock of seagulls, if not albatrosses had dumped guano all over them.) Not too happy, though, if quality has been compromised, but I can confirm they are made by Jako, having caught a glimpse of one in its packet, in Mr Aitken's hand.

 

Can see your point re. the away strip, though - and I'm partially colour blind! However, this is a small price to pay, given the sponsorship and anyway, I've told myself, aren't away strips meant to startle the opposition & their fans with their total lack of sartorial elegance & colour co-ordination? I'd be much more upset to learn we had ditched the traditional white shorts of the home strip for red or black - a heresy that gets threatened periodically.

 

EC

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Stu M Newbie

Stu M

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Fine by me. I'm quite happy to look a bit 'pastel' for £160k. Let's quit moaning about it. For another couple of hundred thousand, I'd happily rename the ground 'Nell's Cafe Stadium' if it meant we carried on progressing.

 

At the end of the day, if you don't like the kit don't buy it, but the reality of life in the Conference is that a few little things have to be compromised.

 

That said, we'll be taken the piss out of wherever we go in sky blue and green! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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JimGNFC Newbie

JimGNFC

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For 160K does it really matter if the Club's Away kit was changed to Yellow (Canvey Island) colours!

 

Things could be worse - The Gills almost had their home kit changed from their traditional blue colours to white, as a result of their sponsorship deal with SeaFrance.

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I.C.@G&NFC Newbie

I.C.@G&NFC

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Since I started this thread, maybe I should comment.

 

I suppose for 163 grand a pale blue/green away strip is a sacrifice that is something that will have to be swallowed. And, while there is nothing wrong with the colours of the home strip, and despite Jako being the manufacturers, the quality is still very poor. It seems to me that someone has asked Jako for the cheapest kit available, and in a hurry.

 

I will continue to wear my 'Reporters' home/away shirts until the end of this season and hopefully next seasons kit will be a lot better.

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