| New home kit 17:17 - Jul 3 with 10591 views | 442Dale |
https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/26-2
As a football shirt, it's fine. It’s a really nice shade of blue for example.
As a Rochdale shirt it is incredibly disappointing. We've spent nearly two decades building up a recognisable and unique look. This isn’t that. Dale are blue and black with white as a third colour (either as trim or shorts/socks).
Some fans prefer black to be more prominent with stripes, others like a plainer shirt, but remaining consistent to the club's colours is vital to our identity and all important branding.
Have a look at the scarves when the new manager and Cian Hayes arrived - blue and black with a bit of white. The back of the Sandy- blue and black walls. The images of the new training ground - blue and black.
To make black such a token colour alongside red, which has no place on a Rochdale home shirt (sponsor’s own brand aside), has made our unique colour scheme no longer deserving of such recognition - we are the only club in the EFL who had blue, black and white as our home colours. A marketing opportunity that can be capitalised on constantly.
In a new era which is looking to cover all the bases to maximise our potential, this is a misstep.
When you've got such a unique brand, any dilution of that is a negative. Bit dramatic? Maybe.
But are we going to start putting bits of red on all the merchandise and club ties too?
Man Utd wear red/white/black. Would you see them add a random bit of blue to their home shirts?
I'm sure those involved were doing their best, but there should always be a fan vote on shirts so that details like this can be identified and addressed as part of the process.
Quite what the fascination is with the 93/94 chevrons is also hard to establish. Especially when we've already had an away kit utilising them and a retro shirt release. And if we had to use them, just make the chevrons blue and black. Our colours.
If there is interest in older kits, we could have looked at past shirts from other seasons for inspiration - 92/93 & 99/00 immediately leap out.
Unfortunately, because there isn't the knowledge or attention to detail required, what we've ended up with is something that could be mistaken for any team who wear blue and white (or it being a Glasgow Rangers shirt). There's little Rochdale about it apart from the badge and the local company sponsor.
Picky? Probably. That won't change the fact it's disappointing. And a situation that was very avoidable. [Post edited 3 Jul 17:33]
|  |
| |  |
| New home kit on 17:26 - Jul 3 with 5228 views | SJE_Dale |
Yeah I don't associate our colours as anything other than blue and black stripes personally. This has happened on more than one occasion where we've deviated back into a blue primary kit. Wonder if there's someone in the club who keeps floating this idea.
Also notice that whenever there's a fans vote on kits then stripes always wins. Certainly won't be purchasing this one whereas a striped kit I any well have done.
I'm not a particular fan of O'Neills either, we've had them a couple of years now and their sportswear isn't exactly inventive and doesn't have people rushing to buy stock. I was disappointed when we announced we'd extended our agreement with them.
A rare misstep |  | | |
| New home kit on 17:30 - Jul 3 with 5183 views | davidab2202 |
Got to agree ,very disappointing and very bland, could be any teams shirt.
Fortunately at my advanced age wouldn't be buying one anyway.
Much prefer a striped theme and the black as all but disappeared. | | | |
| New home kit on 17:33 - Jul 3 with 5130 views | TVOS1907 |
| New home kit on 17:26 - Jul 3 by SJE_Dale |
Yeah I don't associate our colours as anything other than blue and black stripes personally. This has happened on more than one occasion where we've deviated back into a blue primary kit. Wonder if there's someone in the club who keeps floating this idea.
Also notice that whenever there's a fans vote on kits then stripes always wins. Certainly won't be purchasing this one whereas a striped kit I any well have done.
I'm not a particular fan of O'Neills either, we've had them a couple of years now and their sportswear isn't exactly inventive and doesn't have people rushing to buy stock. I was disappointed when we announced we'd extended our agreement with them.
A rare misstep |
As previously explained, it was never stated that our shirts will be blue and black stripes; they were just identified as the primary colours (along with white) in 2008, so stripes have appeared on occasions to aid variety in design, as well as other combinations of appearance without stripes.
However, quite why those red chevrons have been added is a mystery. [Post edited 3 Jul 17:34]
|  |
| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
| |
| New home kit on 17:34 - Jul 3 with 5100 views | jonahwhereru |
When I saw the shoot was in Toad Lane I thought a long overdue tie up with the COOP was about to be launch at the same time.
The problem with being an optimist is disappointment. I’ll keep taking the disappointment rather than being a pessimist. | | | |
| New home kit on 17:36 - Jul 3 with 5073 views | Cedar_Room |
Have to agree with all these comments - this could be anyone’s kit and looks more like Carlisle or Oldham than ours.
I’m personally a fan of blue and black stripes but would take any combo of what I thought were our team colours. Collar looks like it came from an FC United shirt.
Was there any fan engagement at all in this process?? |  | | |
| New home kit on 17:36 - Jul 3 with 5067 views | 442Dale |
| New home kit on 17:33 - Jul 3 by TVOS1907 |
As previously explained, it was never stated that our shirts will be blue and black stripes; they were just identified as the primary colours (along with white) in 2008, so stripes have appeared on occasions to aid variety in design, as well as other combinations of appearance without stripes.
However, quite why those red chevrons have been added is a mystery. [Post edited 3 Jul 17:34]
|
To not even offer up an explanation of why they’re there makes their inclusion even more pointless. I’d suggested it’s a nod to the chevrons seen in 93/94, but that’s because there’s a reference point where they’ve been used previously.
If that was the case at least say so. Are we going to start adding other random colours in future years? [Post edited 3 Jul 18:04]
| |
| |
| New home kit on 17:43 - Jul 3 with 4997 views | sxdale |
A very poor attempt. Won't be buying it. In my opinion O'neills have had 3 decent kits in the time we've been with them, the blue black and white striped one in their 1st season, the red and black striped one and the all white one. I bought last seasons home kit because the design on the side panels and the way it continued into the shorts grew on me and we got promoted in it. This one is utter pants, someone at the club doesn't like stripes! | | | |
| New home kit on 18:04 - Jul 3 with 4842 views | dale_upon_tyne |
Very disappointing effort. Worst ONeills kit yet. Retro collar is horrendous.
Couldn’t agree more with the opinion in the opening post. Blue Black and white - preferably with stripes for me - it’s not hard to get right. |  | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| New home kit on 18:10 - Jul 3 with 4807 views | Shun |
Incredibly dull, and the worst we’ve had in years. Were fans consulted about the design? Why are we shunning (forgive the pun) the one thing that made our colours unique in English football: the black? |  | | |
| New home kit on 18:15 - Jul 3 with 4794 views | Trev |
I think it's a nice design, clearly I'm in the minority. With that said, quality and fit looks rubbish once again. | | | |
| New home kit on 18:17 - Jul 3 with 4777 views | NorthernDale |
It is not a bad kit, I don't like the red, but I do miss the black strips. I will be interested what the second and third kits look like. | | | |
| New home kit on 18:27 - Jul 3 with 4737 views | 442Dale |
| New home kit on 18:15 - Jul 3 by Trev |
I think it's a nice design, clearly I'm in the minority. With that said, quality and fit looks rubbish once again. |
The design is fine. The choice of colours illustrates a lack of appreciation of the football club’s image.
Keep the same design, black collar with blue & white chevrons. Keep the cuffs white with blue & black chevrons.
Would that be a brilliant shirt? Possibly not, but it would have been a Rochdale shirt. | |
| |
| New home kit on 18:46 - Jul 3 with 4654 views | D_Alien |
Simply looks like a nod to our main sponsors, Crown Oil
So someone took the red from the frontal logo and added it to the collar design, thinking it looked 'clever'
If not running it past the fanbase, at least run it past CAB
Or did they? |  |
| |
| New home kit on 18:46 - Jul 3 with 4652 views | Duckegg |
Really do not like the blue at all and dislike those blue and red chevrons.
Much prefer a deeper blue... [Post edited 4 Jul 9:26]
|  | | |
| New home kit on 18:48 - Jul 3 with 4642 views | blackdogblue |
Talking of new kits…
Ordered a Wembley top limited edition top for my lad.
Can anyone remember the delivery date they said please 🤷♂️ |  |
| |
| New home kit on 18:50 - Jul 3 with 4630 views | D_Alien |
| New home kit on 18:48 - Jul 3 by blackdogblue |
Talking of new kits…
Ordered a Wembley top limited edition top for my lad.
Can anyone remember the delivery date they said please 🤷♂️ |
90+7 | |
| |
| New home kit on 18:51 - Jul 3 with 4612 views | blackdogblue |
| New home kit on 18:50 - Jul 3 by D_Alien |
90+7 |
🤷♂️ | |
| |
| New home kit on 18:53 - Jul 3 with 4598 views | D_Alien |
i.e. as long as it takes, but it'll get there | |
| |
| New home kit on 18:54 - Jul 3 with 4586 views | blackdogblue |
See the connection there sorry…
Not good from the club tbh.. he keeps asking | |
| |
| New home kit on 19:26 - Jul 3 with 4444 views | TVOS1907 |
| New home kit on 18:46 - Jul 3 by D_Alien |
Simply looks like a nod to our main sponsors, Crown Oil
So someone took the red from the frontal logo and added it to the collar design, thinking it looked 'clever'
If not running it past the fanbase, at least run it past CAB
Or did they? |
They were involved right from the start, I believe. | |
| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
| |
| New home kit on 19:27 - Jul 3 with 4439 views | TVOS1907 |
| New home kit on 18:48 - Jul 3 by blackdogblue |
Talking of new kits…
Ordered a Wembley top limited edition top for my lad.
Can anyone remember the delivery date they said please 🤷♂️ |
14th July | |
| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
| |
| New home kit on 19:46 - Jul 3 with 4347 views | 442Dale |
| New home kit on 19:26 - Jul 3 by TVOS1907 |
They were involved right from the start, I believe. |
Would hope the CAB can give some insight into the design choices, if there was involvement, in their next meeting minutes.
Now the kit is out, nothing can change that, but it’s learning about mistakes and acknowledging feedback.
The process around deciding a kit usually starts mid-season so it would be good to hear what might be done differently next time around. | |
| |
| New home kit on 20:02 - Jul 3 with 4296 views | 49thseason |
| New home kit on 18:46 - Jul 3 by D_Alien |
Simply looks like a nod to our main sponsors, Crown Oil
So someone took the red from the frontal logo and added it to the collar design, thinking it looked 'clever'
If not running it past the fanbase, at least run it past CAB
Or did they? |
From CAB minutes 9th March ...
"Kit Designs Season 2025/26
Samples were handed around the group of both the home and away kits for next season. Feeback was taken regarding the badges and colours of shorts etc.
A smaller sub-group formed from CAB members may meet again to review some other samples."... minutes from March CAB meeting
(The last CAB meeting was in early June, )
My recollection from March was that they were presented as material samples , colours and badges rather than final designs, The proposed May meeting was pushed into June because of Wembley so I guess they were finalised in-house around the start of June....personally I hate collars on football shirts...but I dont the recall the conversations getting that far back in March other than there could be a chequerboard design on the neck and arms. The biggest concern seemed to be regarding badges being encapsulated in plastic or not ( for lack of a better description), the colour of the second strip and shorts for both kits... I think the cancelled May CAB would have been a better opportunity to finalise the choices , but it didnt happen.... |  | | |
| New home kit on 20:12 - Jul 3 with 4249 views | 442Dale |
| New home kit on 20:02 - Jul 3 by 49thseason |
From CAB minutes 9th March ...
"Kit Designs Season 2025/26
Samples were handed around the group of both the home and away kits for next season. Feeback was taken regarding the badges and colours of shorts etc.
A smaller sub-group formed from CAB members may meet again to review some other samples."... minutes from March CAB meeting
(The last CAB meeting was in early June, )
My recollection from March was that they were presented as material samples , colours and badges rather than final designs, The proposed May meeting was pushed into June because of Wembley so I guess they were finalised in-house around the start of June....personally I hate collars on football shirts...but I dont the recall the conversations getting that far back in March other than there could be a chequerboard design on the neck and arms. The biggest concern seemed to be regarding badges being encapsulated in plastic or not ( for lack of a better description), the colour of the second strip and shorts for both kits... I think the cancelled May CAB would have been a better opportunity to finalise the choices , but it didnt happen.... |
Kits have, in the past, got to be decided before the end of the season to ensure they are ready for the summer release.
If the CAB collectively can clarify when the final decisions were made, what the thinking was behind certain design features (red now featuring as much as black) and what they are taking from feedback to improve the process going forward, then there can be positives taken from what obviously isn’t a perfect kit launch. [Post edited 3 Jul 20:32]
| |
| |
| New home kit on 20:54 - Jul 3 with 4092 views | WirralDale |
| New home kit on 17:34 - Jul 3 by jonahwhereru |
When I saw the shoot was in Toad Lane I thought a long overdue tie up with the COOP was about to be launch at the same time.
The problem with being an optimist is disappointment. I’ll keep taking the disappointment rather than being a pessimist. |
I'm intrigued by the rat nibbling Luke's arm.. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.