The Integration of Football in History

The game of football is a tale as old as time ( https://www.footballhistory.org/ ), dating back to ancient times when it went under different names, for example rugger (rugby football) or assoccer (association football), continuing its legacy in the country where it mostly evolved as of more recent times (19th century): England; the evolution of the football kit, especially the Man United kit (or the Man Utd shirt itself) took a great leap with the discovery of polyester (a polymer with great adaptability) that changed the face of kits.

Almost 150 years ago, the great team of Manchester United was brought to life, originally going under the name of Newton Heath LYR (1878) and changing its name in 1902 to what is known nowadays. Ever since its beginning, the team started the race for competitiveness and sportsmanship, providing its supporters with a great show during each football match.

The Man United Kit: Unified in Being First

The Man United kit was initially in gold and green, representing the colors of the railway company being affiliated with. Manchester was the first industrial city ( https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/worlds-first-industrial-city ) in the world, expanding due to the cotton industry (often being called “Cottonpolis” because of it), but also due to the railway industry, being also the first city in the world to have a steam-powered urban railway.

Provided its rich and world-changing history, the football team in Manchester United changed its appearance several times, in an attempt to keep up with expectations and the evolution of football worldwide. The rebranding of the Man United kit was exponential in the 1940s when it changed its colors, showing a red shirt (the Man Utd shirt), white shorts and black socks. Another relevant changed happened between the 1970s and 1980s when the beginning of commercialization was marked, therefore introducing logos of sponsors and manufacturers.

There is great symbolism in the Man United kit ( https://www.soccerlord.se/product/manchester-united-home-kids-football-kit-24-25/ ) that represents the personality of the team and its strong points. Red stands for identity, strength and the carrying on of tradition, while the green and gold, being the first colors used, stand as tribute to Newton Heath LYR; the crests, being represented by a devil and a ship have remained consistent, being clear representatives of the industrial side and creating a nickname: The Red Devils.

Man Utd Shirt: A Red Devil

The Man Utd shirt has a long and powerful history, strongly connected to the roots of the city, both to the industrial and commercial one. Often being referred to as the Red Devils ( https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/ever-wonder-why-manchester-united-is-nicknamed-the-red-devils ), the team of Manchester United with its red Man Utd shirt is engaged to putting on the greatest show of all times when entering the stadium; no wonder it is one of the highest ranked football teams in England, having few rivals able to reach its level.

The red devil that is shown on the Man Utd shirt is the branding actually given by the French press calling the team “Les Diables Rouges”, after the Salford rugby club; it was not until the 1970s that the devil symbol was put into the crest, creating what nowadays is known as one of the greatest football teams not only in England, but in the world.

Over the years, the kit went through various changes, but its roots remained deeply grounded, as well as the team’s modus operandi. The last change was actually made in 1998, when the words “Football Club” were removed from the badge, only keeping the “Manchester United”, thus offering alignment with the branding efforts that were being conducted.

A Winning Kit Through the Ages

The story of the football kit is actually one of evolution, as when football started to emerge as a popular sport, the clothes the player wore were not entirely suitable for this type of game. The first kits were made of cotton or linen, materials that are usually sought after for their quality, but considering football was a very active type of game, players lacked the breathable aspect in their kit. Therefore, it was not until the 1990s that polyester, a great polymer, was introduced in the making of football kits. Being able to dress breathable shirts made from insulating materials became a great success and further help the team carry the game in a more comfortable manner.

Since the 1990s, the football clothes (including the Man United kit) have not changed very much as far as materials are concerned, only improved and this improvement will continue to be a very important aspect to look out for so as to ensure the smooth running of a successful football club.
The future is looking bright, as football continues to be at the top regarding team games, being a great generator of entertainment and also money, therefore there is great interest in keeping it very much alive and catered to.

The Future in Reverse: Dreaming On

The great football clubs in England are able to provide the stadiums and the crowd with quality and entertaining shows when their teams enter their arena. Apart from well-trained and performing football players, the clubs have to make sure they also offer a great place from which the game can be enjoyed. Therefore, the greatest stadiums, such as the Old Trafford, which is Manchester’s stadium, is greatly looked after, always looking for ways of improvement. No wonder this stadium goes by the name of “The Theatre of Dreams”, as it surely delivers terrific results to great expectations, making every supporter’s dream come true.

Barring the aforementioned, a lot of interest goes to the football kits, as they have to represent everything the club stands for. Not only do they pay extensive attention to materials and colors, but they also make sure every player is well represented by the number on their jersey.
The dream is alive and well, offering viewers the adventure of a lifetime when joining the team for a challenging game and giving them the opportunity to give standing ovations to their favorite Man Utd shirt.