A FRESH look for Athletic has been unveiled ahead of the new season – and it has taken inspiration from one of the club's most memorable campaigns.
The club have revealed their new home shirt for the 2021/22 campaign, produced by kit manufacturers Joma and carrying their shirt sponsors, SRJ Windows, which has been designed with a difference.
For the first time, a number of Pars fans – including many faces from the stands at East End that will be recognisable to large sections of the support – have been involved in its design over the last eight months.
From an introductory meeting that examined global kit trends and debating how many stripes make up the 'perfect' home shirt, to follow-up Zoom calls analysing mock-ups before choosing the final designs, the new kit has been led by the fans.
The home top is very much 'Inspired by a Legend', with design elements taken from the iconic strip worn between 1994 and 1996 by the club's legendary captain, Norrie McCathie, who passed away at the age of just 34 in January 1996.
When he died, Norrie was just three games short of making 500 league appearances for the club but, in an emotional 1995-96 season, his team-mates went on to win the First Division title in his honour.
The working group of fans involved in the shirt's design process wanted to pay homage to one of the greatest-ever Pars, a quarter-of-a-century on from his passing.
The away kit is to be launched by the club this evening (Thursday) and, in next week's Press Sport, we will have a competition for one lucky fan to win their choice of a home or away shirt.
The home top will be available to pre-order from tomorrow (Friday) at www.dafcshop.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here