2023-24 kits

variations

This was the fifth season of Hummel kits.

King of Shaves were the new front of shirt sponsors, the company owned by the brother of City Executive Chairman Doug King who had vowed to end sponsorship deals with gambling companies. This appears to have been a last minute decision for whatever reason, for pre-season games sponsor-less shirts were worn, presumably as there wasn’t enough time to get the sponsor added. Even into the first game of the season there were problems, substitute Milan van Ewijk’s shirt did not have a front sponsor.

Coventry Building Society became the back of the shirt sponsors following their sponsorship of last season’s training gear. XL Motors moved from the back of shirts to become the newly sanctioned sleeve sponsors and G&R Scaffolding were on the shorts for the fourth season but swapped legs again and had a slightly updated logo.

Font and numbers were unchanged, as were the Championship SkyBet sleeve patch and the equality message ‘Together’ on the right arm. The ‘Take Time To Think’ patch on the left sleeve was dropped in favour of the a sponsorship opportunity for EFL clubs. City finally wore Carabao Cup sleeve patches (with the equality message ‘Together’) – the first time they have done so, unfortunately for one game only, the loss against AFC Wimbledon. City again wore the FA Cup patches in that competition, they were unchanged from last season.

The home shirt was the fastest selling City kit of all time. Stripes were back – having last featured on the 2016-17 home kit. The stripes were broad and bold and featured a navy pinstripe within the white stripe. Elements from the crest were featured overlaid faintly on the front of the bespoke shirt, the back of the shirt was plain sky blue. Sky blue shorts with a black and white chevron pattern, and sky blue socks with white chevrons completed the outfit.

The 140th anniversary of the Club’s formation was marked on the inside neck of the shirt, with the traditional civic crest of the City shown – along with images from the clubs past. Long sleeve versions of the shirt were available but most players who wanted long sleeves would wear a sky blue ‘skins’ top under the short sleeved shirt. However Haji Wright did wear a long sleeved version of this shirt. The kit was announced on 14th July 2023.

Goalkeeper shirts were bespoke again. The all black kit featured a unique design that paid homage to Coventry’s rich history in the silk weaving industry, and was based on the “Endless Ribbon” art installation displayed during the City of Culture year for the City. The kit was announced on 14th July 2023.

The second keeper kit was an all white and the same template as the black version, the 140th anniversary of the Club’s formation was marked on the inside neck with a the ‘S’ logo dating back to the Singers FC days of the club along with images from the clubs past. The kit was worn on 29th July 2023 in the pre-season friendly against Exeter City.

The third goalkeeper kit was an all bright yellow outfit. The shirt seemed to be the same template as last season’s goalkeeper shirts minus the sleeve designs, the Hummel logo was white and there were four white chevrons on the shoulders. The shorts had the four white chevrons down each side and the Hummel logo on the rear of the leg as last season. The socks were the same design as last season also – but didn’t feature the ‘CCFC’ detail on the backs. The kit was worn for the first time away to Swansea City on the 19th August 2023.

The away kit was inspired by the Le Coq Sportif away kit from the 1996-97 Premier League season. The checked navy and red pattern from that popular shirt was back but with an updated warped effect on the checks. The back of the shirt was plain dark blue. Dark blue shorts with a black and white chevron pattern, and dark blue socks with white chevrons completed the outfit. The 140th anniversary of the Club’s formation was marked on the inside neck of the shirt, with the Bantams crest from the 50’s and 60’s shown – along with images from the clubs past. The kit was announced on 14th August 2023.

The 3rd kit marked Hummel’s 100th anniversary in 2023 and was a reworked version of the iconic Denmark 1986 design. The design was referenced in City’s kits previously – in 1987-89 and 2019-20, this time the popular away colours of green and black were used. The first time these colours have featured since the 2018-19 3rd kit. The 140th anniversary of the Club’s formation was marked on the inside neck of the shirt, the elephant and ball crest used in the 60’s and 70’s featured, with images of players of the era including George Curtis, Tommy Hutchison and Mick Coop. The kit was announced on 26th September 2023.

For the home game with Birmingham City a white ribbon motif was worn on the shirt, this was to support White Ribbon UK, the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls.

For the FA Cup Semi Final versus Manchester United, City had text marking the occasion on the front of their shirts.