Best Championship 2022/23 home kits: every shirt ranked
The 2022/23 Championship kits are here. And where there are new shirts, there’s a FOOTY.COM ranking.
Hull City, Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United, Norwich, Burnley and Watford are in; Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest now have bigger fish to fry.
Even if that pesky Premier League gets most of the attention, we think there’s plenty to talk about here with the Championship’s good, bad and downright ugly.
Check out our 2023/24 Championship kit ranking, if you're looking for something fresh.
Agree or disagree with us, love or hate us. We’re going for it regardless…
24. Preston North End
Brand: Nike | 2021-22 Rank: 20th
Sorry Preston North End fans, a plain white kit which doesn’t offer any pattern whatsoever, will always prop up our rankings. The Par Group is accurate, this shirt is a very boring level par.
They managed a great escape (20th) in our 21/22 ranking last year, but this Nike “design” is getting well and truly relegated by us today.
23. Swansea City
Brand: Joma | 2021-22 Rank: 8th
The first of the Welsh contingent now but unfortunately, it’s not good news. This shirt looks like a knock-off you’d pick up during your jollies in Tenerife. That wafer thin, floppy collar? Yikes.
The Westacres logo should take itself well off the map, and the embossed nod to the Swansea City 1992-93 kit doesn’t offer nearly enough to help. A huge slip from 8th in our 21/22 ranking.
22. Reading
Brand: Macron | 2021-22 Rank: 17th
We know the story behind the sleeves. Awareness for climate change. And we wholeheartedly applaud Reading FC for that. But, that doesn’t stop the design from being objectively grim.
The sleeves *could* potentially work on a simpler shirt, but with thick horizontal blue and white stripes? It’s too much. Flush this one down the Junior Hoilett.
21. Huddersfield Town
Brand: Umbro | 2021-22 Rank: 12th
We’ve seen this Huddersfield Town design at least 7 times in the last decade alone. It just doesn’t seem to change at all. Maybe that’s why Utilita slapped such clashing colours into their logo?
Last season was an incredible effort by The Terriers in almost landing Premier League football, but like the pun you’re about to read, this kit is a fairly Terrier-ible effort.
20. Birmingham City
Brand: Nike | 2021-22 Rank: 7th
Nike coming in with another safe effort. This Birmingham City shirt has neat white neck and sleeve details with a solid horizontal pattern, which you can somewhat nod your head to. Yeah, it’s OK.
The Blues did well to avoid relegation last season but this shirt will be feeling a little like Jobe Bellingham, knowing it’s never going to be the best one.
19. Bristol City
Brand: hummel | 2021-22 Rank: 1st
Oh no, it’s a freefall to make your stomach turn. From 1st last season to 19th this season. How can it go so wrong? Especially with hummel at the helm of design.
The idea is great. Taking inspiration from the 1950s (when women’s football was banned) and creating the same shirt for every team in the Bristol City setup. Aesthetically though, it’s just not that exciting.
18. Queens Park Rangers
Brand: Errea | 2021-22 Rank: 9th
This has got all the exquisite balance of prime Taarabt on the dribble. Sponsor logo, hoops, badges, trims. It’s all so perfectly uniformed.
Yes, that piping down the shoulders is a little ‘not quite retro’, but it’s a solid shirt from Errea x QPR. Will they make it to the Premier League again? Their fans will certainly be Hooping so.
17. Cardiff City
Brand: New Balance | 2021-22 Rank: 19th
The Cardiff City fans will be happy that they’ve beaten their Welsh rivals, in the garment stakes at least. The only New Balance shirt in The Championship has brought us an interesting deep collar and a subtle bluebird print pattern.
The bold-fonted sponsor is as shouty as ever, but it doesn’t take too much from this simple design. It’s no classic, but you’ll see a fair few of them dotted around the Cardiff City stadium this season.
16. Sunderland
Brand: Nike | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
Another design looking to gather inspiration from past successes now, this Sunderland number focuses on similar themes to the ones used during their successful early ‘00s Premier League stint. Ah, Kevin Phillips = back of the net.
Last season’s white collars and cuffs have been switched to black, with solid stripes added throughout. Will it inspire Sunderland back to the big time? Probably not, but The Black Cats’ fans will be hoping it can bring them luck.
15. Sheffield United
Brand: Errea | 2021-22 Rank: 10th
Deja vu. Last year’s white trims switched to black plus red and white stripes. One spot above Sunderland (mainly for the addition of black outlines on the body) are Sheffield United. Not much to tell the two apart, if we’re honest.
The Blades will be looking to revive their own 2019/20 Premier League success, but first they’ll need Billy to be Sharp to slash their way through a tough Championship division.
14. Blackburn Rovers
Brand: Macron | 2021-22 Rank: 14th
A non-mover. Even though the sponsor is a vape company with branding straight from ‘90s lad mag culture, the remainder of this shirt is quintessential Blackburn Rovers. It’s Tugay. It’s Brett Emerton. It’s Morten Gamst Pedersen.
The touches of red are back on this Macron outfit with a clean, classic blue and white half-and-half on show. We think the Rovers’ faithful will be happily pulling this on for their trips to Ewood.
13. Middlesbrough
Brand: Errea | 2021-22 Rank: 4th
It’s a brave decision to jump ship from hummel to Errea, but luckily for Middlesbrough this season, it’s not a bad one. They even rolled out cult hero Fabrizio Ravanelli to promote it, and somehow he looks the same as he did 25 years ago.
It’s a fairly simple design which we’ve seen a lot from this club, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. The white midriff band, cuffs and smart collar match up well. We must admit though, Unibet are a little overpowering.
12. Hull City
Brand: Umbro | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
The Tigers’ stripes have returned to the Championship this season, and their outfit contains a subtle tiger pattern of its own. The thick black and amber stripes with white outlines make for a strong look.
The Hull City/Turkish connection continues with Corenden Airlines across the front, whilst thick cuffs and collar in reverse colours round this neat design off. They’ll definitely see more than Tu-fans buying this one.
11. Rotherham United
Brand: Puma | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
The first of a very decent Puma trio now, as new boys Rotherham United dip their toe into the Championship. The detailed cuff and collar combo follows a popular trend from this season, with sublimated imagery celebrating 10 years of football at the New York Stadium.
We love a sponsor that drops their own primary colours to suit the club, and that’s exactly what IPM Group have done here. Another promotion may be a stretch, but The Millers are going to look good trying.
10. Luton Town
Brand: Umbro | 2021-22 Rank: 22nd
Hop in the Bedford van and go for a retro spin, this is direct from Luton Town’s 1989/90 season. A fan favourite, Umbro have tried to give a modern twist to a classic orange shirt from the glory days. And we like it.
Last year’s effort was a bit rubbish, so it’s good to see them bounce back. The gradient diagonal design is enough without being too much, alongside thick trims which balance it out nicely. It was certainly Kenil-worth the wait.
9. West Bromwich Albion
Brand: Puma | 2021-22 Rank: 16th
Straight from one retro to another, we’re sticking our flares on and setting the dial to 1978. Fondly remembered by older West Brom fans, that knitted shirt saw Bryan Robson, Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis and more pull on the famous Baggies’ stripes.
We can’t imagine Ideal boilers were around then, but they are now and luckily they’re logo isn’t too offensive. Designed by a supporters' club committee, we know this shirt will please the WBA crowd and we have to agree. That scribbled badge, lovely.
8. Watford
Brand: Kelme | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
This is the only Kelme entry, and it’s a cracker. Even with Stake refusing to reduce their size 84 font. The Watford colours are beautifully balanced across the shirt detailing and the reverse sleeve trims work extremely well.
The vibrant base yellow contains a geometric ‘W’ pattern, which adds an interesting layer to the design. The badge is a classic as always, but oddly doesn’t feature a hornet, it shows a hart (male red deer). Hey, it looks good, so we’ll let them off for confusing us.
7. Millwall
Brand: hummel | 2021-22 Rank: 3rd
We’ve never had Huski chocolate, but we hope it’s as velvety smooth as this Millwall shirt. Melt in the mouth stuff. The navy and white is a fantastic palette on which to drop an embossed lion pattern. It’s even sprinkled with hummel’s famous chevron shoulders.
Millwall have plenty to do to step up to Premier League level but one thing’s for certain, The Den is going to be packed with seriously smart-looking Lions this year.
6. Wigan Athletic
Brand: Puma | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
Rejoice! It’s a charity sponsor. And it’s on a very decent kit design from Puma x Wigan Athletic too. The blue ‘graphic equaliser’ style works for us, especially when it’s slowly faded out towards the white shoulders.
Finally Wigan are back in the 2nd tier of English football, could we see more legends created in Wigan blue and white this season? They’re going to need plenty of Ds & Ws at the DW to make it happen.
5. Blackpool
Brand: Puma | 2021-22 Rank: 2nd
An absolute diamond from The Seasiders. Well, plenty of diamonds really. Like Luton’s home shirt, it’s another throwback to 1989. A simpler time, when Shandy Bass was the drink of choice for Blackpool folk.
The collar is an intriguing shape with cuffs to match. It’s as tasty as a freshly-baked doughnut on the prom. It’ll certainly be bright and breezy on Blackpool seafront when fans get hold of this beauty.
4. Burnley
Brand: Umbro | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
A modern spin on a much-loved shirt isn’t a new idea, but it’s one which deserves the perfect sponsor, especially when it’s celebrating 140 years of a club’s existence. Step up Classic Football Shirts, the go-to spot for iconic shirts from years gone by.
The design is a twist on the 1991-92 title-winning Burnley home kit, and it pays an exceptional tribute without directly copying. Burnley will be hunting for promotion this season, but they’ll face some stern Kompany to get there.
3. Stoke City
Brand: Macron | 2021-22 Rank: 18th
Without doubt, the best of the thick-striped designs from this year’s Championship sides. Their home, away and third trio rank amongst the best in terms of design and advertising promo, and this shirt will do the business on any cold, rainy day of the week in Stoke.
Those thick stripes are broken up amazingly well by diagonal slits, adding an interesting visual to what could have been fairly mundane. The pinstripe trims are perfect and the black badging doesn’t try too hard. This is brill.
2. Coventry City
Brand: hummel | 2021-22 Rank: 5th
The sky blue of Coventry City has had some excellent examples made from it over the years, this is no exception. Their latest design climbs from 5th in our 2021/22 ranking. Those superb tramlines adopt the pattern from Coventry Cathedral’s stained-glass windows. Oof.
The central badging, along with the elongated hummel logo help to add focus on the tramlines taken from Admiral’s 1975-1981 strips. Betting sponsor, yuk. But it does merge in quite well, so we’ll overlook it this time.
1. Norwich City
Brand: Joma | 2021-22 Rank: n/a
This is the wonderful home shirt, taken from one of the best home / away / third sets you’re likely to see this season. Joma have absolutely nailed the Norwich City brief for 2022/23. A notoriously difficult brief, which includes screaming yellow and vibrant green.
A beautiful effort, with thin pinstripes which help make the green less overpowering. The dual coloured collar and cuffs are so, so clean too. Local business and racing stalwarts Lotus Cars ease themselves into the design effortlessly.
They’ve dropped down in leagues, but they’ve stepped it up in the fashion stakes. We can’t wait to see Josh Sargent’s hair glow when it’s reflected by this strip.
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