Retro-style kit rekindles memories of glories past

THEN and now: (l-r) Carl Winchester, Joel Coleman and Rhys Turner in the new strip.

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RED is the colour for Athletic on their new retro-style home kit for next season.

Unveiled today, the club has gone for a design with elasticated sleeves, a button-down collar and blue shirts, shorts and socks for the new season — with red trim evoking memories of the strip worn when Neil Redfearn fired the club into the top flight in 1991 against Sheffield Wednesday.

The away kit is an inverted version of the home strip, with red as the main colour on shirts, shorts and socks. Both are manufactured by kit partner Sondico, with logistics firm PFE Express Limited replacing the Sports Direct logo on the shirt front.

Midfield man Carl Winchester modelled the away strip while striker Rhys Turner showed off the home kit.

The home kit is available to pre-order from wearelatics.co.uk or sportsdirect.com from today and will be available to buy at Sports Direct in Oldham town centre on June 18, followed by the away kit on July 16.



Meanwhile, Athletic have been linked with a move for former Walsall right-back Ben Purkiss.

Released by the Saddlers at the end of last season, the 31 year old is an attack-minded full back and is well known to Kelly, having played with him at York for two years from 2007. Purkiss had been with Walsall for the past three seasons.



ATHLETIC have completed their pre-season friendly line-up with the confirmation of a behind-closed-doors contest against Dumbarton on a pre-season stay based in Stirling.

The schedule is: Saturday, July 11: Chester (A) 3pm; Tuesday, July 14: Dumbarton (A) Behind closed doors; Friday, July 17: Stirling Albion (A) 7.30pm; Tuesday, July 21: Bolton (H) 7.45pm; Wednesday, July 22: Trafford FC (A)* 7.45pm; Saturday, July 25: Blackburn (H) 3pm; Tuesday, July 28: Halifax (A) 7.45pm; Saturday, August 1: Carlisle (A) 3pm.

* Game features an Athletic XI made up of young professionals and youth team players.

WHAT do you think of Athletic’s new kit designs? Let us know at sport@oldham-chronicle.co.uk or tweet @Matt_Chambers_