Came across this: http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/ This is the first I've heard of it. Has anyone heard anything to confirm this? If it's true, what does everyone think? I don't think I see it as the end of civilisation as we know it, but I prefer the concept of black shorts to white ones. That said, I haven't seen the kit yet.
There are pictures of the new all white kit in the new Fultime Mag which is out today and it will be on sale tomorrow and presumably worn by the players tomorrow night. I'm not convinced and much prefer the idea of an all black kit to an all white kit but will withhold judgment until we see it.
Thanks Penguin. DR, how do you know - have you been looking at my butt again? If I have to take out another restraining order, I will...
Well spotted as usual Captain. We used to be known as the "Lillywhites" but this is unbelievable and presumably thought up by the Kappa boys and girls. Before we took up residence at the Cottage there were cleary some doubts about our identity - green hoops a la Celtic when St Andrews Boys Club and immediately before settling at the Cottage it was a red top. But since 1896 it has been White Shirts and Black "Knickers". Just after the war (second) the knickers had a white stripe and in the cup final era, two white stripes. However always Black. But, as Penguin says, it's there in black and white (pun intended) in the 'Fulham Direct' sales brochure out today with 'Futime'. We are "Lillywhite". There was no consultation over the change of the badge - when 'brand Fulham' occupied the minds of some at the club more than attention to football. Now this utter commercialism out of the blue (kind of a pun). Yes, it's good for the club to get revenue from the sale of kit and yes, every club brings out new kit every year. But have they no imagination, dare I say empathy. This is not Fulhamish, but what I'm thinking could rhyme. I think I'll lie down and have an identity crisis.
Mmm. More like proletariat, Craving. I think that's latin for a working class boy who keeps the black and white flag flying high. Suffer a thought for the poor sods outside Putney Bridge station and their 5 quid scarfs - what will they come up with? Have Sports Direct still got the Lillywhite copyright?
Well, now that I've seen the new kit I feel better able to comment. I stand by my view that I prefer us to be white shirts, black shorts because those are the traditional Fulham colours, but as white shorts go, these are okay. I like the way the black trim on the shirts matches up with the shorts, so I'm not outraged by the change. Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age.
I too preferred the black shorts, but it really doesn't matter. At least it's not like Everton's away kit.
Matters to me. Fulham are white shirts, black shorts. Unless it's only for Europe. Socks are a different matter.
I know where Rocky's coming from but I'm inclined to agree with the Captain. White shorts sound like an abomination but when you actually see the guys in the kit it looks quite good. I much prefer the shirt to last year's. I don't have much of a view on socks though!
The "shorts" are terrible, not just the colour but the style. I've said so elsewhere and really should stop here but ... we are Black and White and have been since time immemorial. Did you hear Diddy David announcing the team on to the pitch on Thursday night as 'Jol's Black and White Army'? You did not. A change as extreme, yes extreme, as this for purely commercial reasons shows a toal lack of respect to the club and importantly the fans. And I bet you haven't yet seen the goalkeeper strip. Everton eat your heart out. The boys and girls at Kappa have utterly no sense of taste or design nous.
So is the Cottage to be repainted white, and will we sing 'Martin Jol's white with a bit of black army'?
I know I've become obsessive about these blooming shorts, not least because I'm convinced it's all Kappa's doing. Kappa who wouldn't know the history of the club from the big toe in Italy. So I compared the new kit with last years. Apart from the white on black, the change and the reason is obvious. The two nude ladies are BIGGER. Also, on the shirt they are now on top of the shoulder instead of at the top of the arm. On the shorts (shiver) they are now white on the black stripe. Therefore more prominent and apparent. Clearly Kappa felt that their 'logo'/ advertising wasn't being picked up (on TV?) clearly/often enough for whatever they are paying, What price sponsorship? And to boot, the two fat ladies are tacky.
I agree that compromising the club's traditional colours in the name of (allegedly) pandering to our kit sponsor is sickening, but I can't help but find it funny that a pair of shorts has got us all het up
Cottager58, I agree with you that Kappa's logo is tacky - I've always thought so, long before they had anything to do with Fulham. However, the logo depicts a man and a woman, not two nude ladies. It took me quite a while to realise it. Not sure if I should be worried about that!
Can't say I looked that closely Captain. Whatever they are certainly not Fulhamish. The thing that really gets me is the lack of respect and loyalty. For instance - * who started "Have Faith" when things were dire? - the Hammy End. The club adopted that quick enough. * who started "Woy's Black and White Army"? - the Hammy end. The club (through Diddy D) adopted that quick enough. * who started "Stand up if you Believe"? - the Hammy End. The club have "Believers" plastered all over their website and elsewhere. * who stared "Lillywhites"? - rival supporters (I think some rogues from another part of London who were with us in the old second division and their point had nothing to do with the colour of our kit). Will the club adopt that mantra if others remember and start chanting? And it was picked up by many of the opposition at the time. My point is the lack of consideration to the fans, except when it suits. Faces have changed but memories of how the fans were treated in the 80 and early 90's still lingers. It's not too far to suggest that if it wasn't for the Hammy End we wouldn't be at the Cottage today getting excited about anything, never mind the blasted shorts.
Bidley, it goes much, much deeper than just a pair of shorts. Fulham is Fulham because of its history and tradition. The original kit is as much a part of that as the Cottage itself. Of course the change in the colour of the shorts is nowhere near as significant as the threats to the Cottage. And there have been a few of those since the founding fathers turned down an offer of Stamford Bridge and opted instead for here. Most recently Ernie Clay and Cabra; Jimmy Hill and Marler (incidentally Ken Bates is to be thanked for that one and helping us thwart going full circle and landing up at Stamford Bridge); and even MAF. But there is a matter of priciple here. So yes I am a bit het up to see over 100 years of our heritage changed purely because the Kappa sales pie charts are not to their liking. Don't they realise that the kit doesn't sell because it does not fit the average, never mind the larger than average, fan - others have observed this in numerous posts. Don't they do any market research? I have yet to speak to one fan who likes this or last year's replica kit and you certainly don't see as many as you'd expect walking around the ground. Changinging the colour of the shorts is unnecesary and irrelevant. I'm passionate about this club, everything about it. Not just the here and now but the heritage and I resent some Johnny-come-Lateleys tinkering with that for no good reason.
Here's me getting effervescent about a plain and simole pair of shorts - cop a look at the England goalkeeper jersey
