On Wednesday of this week the club posted on YouTube a teaser for the official unveiling of the new kit. An announcement of the announcement if you like.
But it did the job and, for once, I must confess to being a little intrigued as to what will be unleashed on the Norfolk public at its County Show on July 1.
I can’t lie. Normally I mock those who get their knickers in twist over the design of the new kit and I usually fail to get excited over the shade of yellow, the cut of the shorts or whether there is too much green on the socks.
My perennial ‘joke’ over a desire on my part for the kit to contain a hint of puce is not even amusing to me any more.
But, credit to the club’s PR machine. This time they’ve hooked me.
In terms of its design, the smart money is on it being a replica of the kit worn in 1935, in commemoration of Carrow Road’s 80th birthday. Or, if not an exact replica, at least offering it a firm nod – a clue being the #NOPLACELIKEHOME that accompanied the launch of the launch.
And, if so, I like the sound of it.
Not only do I naturally warm to the idea of a retro kit (it’s probably an age thing) but the prospect of the old place being given the treatment in the year it becomes an octogenarian also appeals. It’s a reason to be proud and, yes, worthy of a minor celebration.
If the reveal does offer us a 1935 vintage we’ll be offered a yellow and green ‘half and half’ shirt, with black shorts and black socks with green turnovers. Sounds good to me. Different, and I like different (egg and cress anyone?).
What I hope doesn’t happen is that when the bugles are blown and the dry ice unleashed, the countdown underwhelmingly reveals a kit that is merely a slight variation on every other City kit we’ve ever known. I’m not sure Twitter could withstand the meltdown.
Also, I pray the Norfolk Show reveal – at 10:00am on July 1 – isn’t akin to the cringe-worthy event put on by Arsenal to unveil their kit for next season. If you haven’t seen it, please allow yourselves a few minutes to do so. You won’t regret it.
For those that haven’t, or can’t be bothered, the Gunners attempted to put on a ‘show’ in deepest North London, which was attended by hundreds (possibly thousands) and which amounted to some loud music, some rabble rousing, lots of smoke and Thierry Henry leading the Arsenal faithful in a countdown.
The pièce de résistance was the actual reveal when the crowd, who had been worked up into an absolute frenzy, were introduced to five sheepish looking players who, first of all startled by the fireworks, became entangled in ribbons and ticker-tape. Unintentional genius.
I’ve accused Gooners in the past of lacking a sense of humour. I take it all back. And even funnier… the kit looked, to me at least, virtually the same as last season’s.
But each to their own.
So, I hope City’s marketing department were not observing too closely events as they unfolded in Islington. I’d hate for Bradley Johnson to be the subject of a Naomi Campbell-style catwalk tumble or for John Ruddy to suffer the ignominy of an interview in which he’s asked to comment on the neckline of his new shirt.
Save the razzmatazz for those who thrive on it. As they say, let’s ‘keep it real’.
If the shirt is a 1935 style, it won’t be the first time the club have gone down that particular route, albeit the last brief foray into retro-land didn’t end well.
Those who have chosen not to obliterate the ill-fated 2008/09 season from their memory will recall that, with the FA’s permission, the club chose to commemorate our 1959 FA Cup heroes by wearing a replica of that kit for the duration of that season’s cup run.
In the event they wore said kit kit just twice, and only because the first tie – away at Charlton – was drawn. The replay, which City lost 1-0, was Glenn Roeder’s final game in charge and brought to a close one of the more controversial and inglorious Carrow Road reigns.
I’m not expecting a repeat in 2015/16.
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Virgil van Dijk? Seriously?
As much as I love the intent and ambition that would accompany a bid for a player who John Collins describes as “the best defender in Europe” I would strongly urge any Y’Army member to resist getting a tattoo bearing his name for the time being.
While Collins is clearly trying to maximise Celtic’s transfer fee if the Dutchman is indeed to be sold – which he also denies – this strikes me as a case of City’s interest simply being used by van Dijk’s agent as a tool to prod those with fatter wallets and more glamourous credentials.
I’d love to be wrong – he’d be a fine addition – but I’m not holding my breath.
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Finally… as Carrow Road enters the era of the octogenarian, so too has my dad. And on Father’s Day it’s appropriate that I tip my hat to the one who is responsible for the yellow and green blood that courses through my veins.
Have a good day old boy and don’t ease up on the Ipswich-baiting. They love it really.
Looks like the half and half shirt is pretty much nailed on based on the pic that is doing the rounds on Twitter
http://i58.tinypic.com/2wml94y.jpg
Will club also opt for retro ankle length shorts taking more material than a kilt?
If we do go retro, cue media pundits quips about “defending from a bygone era” when things go pear shaped.
When I was lad I swear city use to play in black shorts.or is old age catching up with me ?
I’m liking the idea of the split colours from way back when but what about going back to 1930s ticket prices for the full authentic time travel experience?
At the risk of spoiling the teaser, the old shirt design can be viewed at;
http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Norwich_City/Norwich_City.htm
More importantly, has the bloody awful plum and blue away kit been binned?
I can see Bradderz on the cat walk but hope they don’t make Jonny Howson do it.
I thought Thierry Henry handled it well – but then he did against the Irish too.
Holly H – that “bloody awful plum and blue away kit” to which you refer, just happened to one of the all time best selling kits of recent times!
I guess that just goes to show how little these marketing types know!
No, Andrew Hall, you memory is not playing you false, the shorts were black in the 50s, when I started watching.
Jim Davies I have this image of David Cross in black shorts in my mind ,but what year would that be and would be in them ????
I actually like the idea of a return to black shorts. City used to wear black shorts with two yellow stripes down each side and I think they complimented the yellow and green shirts even better than green shorts. If the half and half shirt is to be introduced to commemorate 80 years at Carrow Road I think they should also go with the black shorts and socks, it’s a classic and attractive looking combination. I don’t think it should return permanantly as the mainly yellow shirt is a classic on it’s own, but as a one off season only strip would be a nice touch.
Andrew, Norwich first wore green shorts in the 1965-66 season, then alternated with black for a couple of seasons before settling with green in the 1970-71 season. Not sure exactly when David Cross joined Norwich but it was certainly around this time, so quite possible you did see him in them.
David Cross joined in 1971, so probably just missed out on black shorts. But I remember them clearly from the 60s (oddly enough, I don’t remember green shorts from back then).
I’m with Holly H on the plum-and-blue. Maybe one for the fashionistas, but not for football. Time for a red away kit?
Not that it matters much. No-one could feel good about the egg-and-cress shirts, but no-one could feel anything but good about we played in them.
Not sure what plum and blue kits you’ve all been looking at? The 2014-15 away shirt is actually plum and black…
On the teaser clip the shirt brad has on flashes half and half at one point so I think you may be correct in your retro kit idea!
Paul(12) – the official colour description is ‘dark burgundy’ with ‘claret’ stripe! Whatever it is, it only made 6 appearances and we only played well in one of them (Watford). Time to retire it.
David, it seems Norwich first trialled the green shorts around the mid sixties but didn’t wear them continuously and often reverted back to the black. There are colour team photos of City wearing green shorts from around this time, and even white socks at one stage in the late sixties. I seem to recall reading somewhere one of the reasons for trialling green was that the black shorts tended to fade badly after numerous washes and looked a bit shabby. The excellent ‘historical football kits’ website is a good reference point for anyone interested in the history of Norwich’s strips over the years, and also shows the club have experimented quite a bit in the past with colour combinations, clearly highlighting it isn’t just a modern thing.
The burgundy and claret away kit seems to have caused a lot of whining. I heard it on the grapevine that the designer was partial to the vin rouge.
I just hope the next vintage kit will be big enough to cover my full body.