20 best non-league kits of 2023/24
Non-league teams don’t get enough airtime. Today, we’re here to change that.
There are some weird and wonderful things happening from the National League downwards. That’s not forgetting across the bryns of Wales and the lochs of Scotland too.
It felt wrong to rank these amazing football kits, so we’re simply bundling them up to celebrate the warm and fuzzy community of lower league football.
There’s no doubt that some of these shirt designs could compete at Premier League level, even if the teams and their players can only dream of doing so.
Also, the FA website claims that there are 37,500+ teams in the UK. So, please forgive us if we’ve missed a shirt or two from this list…
Southend United (Home)
Image from Southend United.
We begin by treading on the first step of English football’s non-league pyramid, the National League. And we’re going coastal, with Southend United’s home shirt.
A fantastic background pattern is built on with sparing dashes of white and yellow. This won’t look out of place on the beaches of Essex.
Walthamstowe FC (Home & Away)
Image from William Morris Gallery / Walthamstowe FC.
A (much documented) collaboration for the ages. The William Morris Gallery teamed up with Isthmian League North’s Walthamstowe FC in 2023/24. And the results? Astonishing.
We had to mention the home and away shirts, as they both offer so much. John Henry Dearle’s ‘Yare’ pattern looks incredible in either white or blue. Made by Admiral too. Oof.
Hartlepool United (Away)
Image from Hartlepool United.
Back up to the National League now, and it’s an “unbelievable Jeff” away release from Hartlepool United x Errea. Stellar stuff from Stelling’s side.
An unusual blend of teal, navy with red piping kicks out a satisfying overall look. The striped design doesn’t try to overcomplicate anything, and that’s why it’s a winning mix.
Dorking Wanderers (Home)
Image from Dorking Wanderers.
Sticking around in the fifth tier of the English game, it’s time for some Atleti vibes delivered directly from the beauty hotspot of Dorking, Surrey.
Red, white and blue works, as shown by some of the biggest clubs in the world. The balance is perfect on their Macron home shirt, with thick stripes and blue accents working in tandem.
Boston United (Away)
Image from Boston United.
It’s time to blow this list open with a grenade of wackiness. Soccer AM fans will fondly remember the “Boston Goals” commentary sketches, but now they’ll remember them for this shirt.
It could only be Umbro that delivered a vibrant chunk of ‘90s style to the National League North. Polo neck, turquoise, violet, navy, kaleidoscope pattern. You just have to respect the madness.
Hackney Wick FC (Home)
Image from Hackney Wick FC.
Get your Ps together, get down the ends and buy this, quick. Sponsored by Netflix’s hit show Top Boy, this Hackney Wick home shirt is East London through and through.
Nike’s green zig-zag design draws inspiration from African art. It weaves the 32 postcodes of London through its base, representing community and interconnectivity. A classic.
Tonbridge Angels (Away)
Image from Tonbridge Angels.
A cool name, cool badge and now, a cool shirt. That’s what Tonbridge Angels of the National League South have managed to achieve.
Hope & Glory will feature a few times again this year, a manufacturer that is raising the bar for non-league kit design. This ‘feathered’ teal and navy away shirt is simply sublime.
Chester FC (Home)
Image from Chester FC.
This beautiful ancient city now has a home shirt to match its eye-catching streets and landmarks. It completes a quickfire brace for Hope & Glory.
National League North’s Chester FC has a great colour palette, mixing bright blue, white and yellow. The clean pinstriping and subtle pattern on this home shirt gives it a fantastic look.
Loch Ness FC (Home & Away)
Images from Loch Ness FC.
Stalwarts of many a non-league kit PR frenzy, Loch Ness FC are back (unsurprisingly) once again with a duo of monster-laden collectibles.
Appin Sports deliver the 2023/24 outfits. Black and gold for home and red for away. Nessie pops up all over, but like the famed monster herself, it’s never overdone. Very smart.
Bury FC (Home)
Image from Bury FC.
A true phoenix club, Bury FC have returned to their spiritual home of Gigg Lane for 2023/24. Even if it is down in the North West Counties Premier Division.
Hope & Glory are based in Oldham, so it makes sense that they’d hop over to Bury. This home polo design was voted for by their vocal fans, and we can see why. Clean and fresh.
Torquay United (Away)
Image from Torquay United.
The ‘Gulls may have slipped even further out of the league system and into National League South, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look on the bright side.
Designed to transport the seaside skies of Devon with them, this Puma away design puts a sunny spin on the plain striped idea. Hello Mr. Blue Sky indeed.
Eccleshall FC (Home)
Images from Eccleshall FC.
In the depths of Staffordshire we’ve unearthed a North West Counties (Division 1 South) gem. Fused Sports are another brand doing clever work in the UK’s non-league.
Blue, white and yellow are well blended. The criss-cross base and geometric shoulder patterning is excellent alongside central badging. The away shirt is also sharp, check it out too.
District Line AFC (Home)
Images from District Line AFC.
Our lowest ranked side in the pyramid, competing in the tiny London Underground League Division 2. But like the tube, it’s jam-packed with interesting characters and shirts.
It’s only right that London’s green line gets the green treatment. A subtle diamond pattern runs throughout with gold and light green touches to finish. Next stop? Classyville.
Margate FC (Away)
Image from Margate FC.
We head back to the seaside now on a jolly outing to Margate. A club that always catches the eye with their kit releases. Thanks in no small part to British rock band, The Libertines.
All their O’Neills’ shirts have something to look at, but we’ve chosen the black and white striped away strip. You don’t see horizontal stripes too much, and it’s a shame. It looks brill.
Yeovil Town (Home)
Image from Yeovil Town.
The town of Yeovil is famed for glove-making, and this design fits the club like a hand in glove. Errea have created an excellent shirt for the recently relegated side.
The iconic green of the home shirt is split beautifully by white pinstripes, collar and sleeve ends. Jurassic Fibre? Can’t imagine there are many cooler sounding sponsors out there.
Bromley FC (Home)
Images from Bromley FC.
Back up to the National League now, and we’re headed to south east London for a kit that’s been dipped in a vat of Kappa goodness.
A subtle half-and-half base is topped off by majestic sleeve and vent patterning. The legendary Kappa logo continues throughout the shorts too. Lovely stuff.
Oldham Athletic (Home)
Image from Oldham Athletic.
The Latics’ fans have had a rough time over the past few seasons, but this home shirt might just deliver a much needed injection of joy.
Orange is a step away from OAFC’s usual palette. It’s more than welcome in our book. There’s no need to push boundaries at Boundary Park, and Puma have nailed this with simplicity.
Dulwich Hamlet FC (Away)
Image from Dulwich Hamlet FC.
This Isthmian League Premier Division side has one of the most recognisable colour sets in the non-league world. It goes hand-in-hand with the buoyant atmosphere that their fans create.
Last season’s quadrant design was a beauty, but this season it’s thick stripes. We’ve gone with the more pink away strip because well, why wouldn’t you?
Runcorn Linnets FC (Home)
Images from Runcorn Linnets FC.
One for Norwich City to take note of. Runcorn Linnets of the Northern Premier League have taken lime green and lemon yellow and added their own twist.
The broken green horizontal stripes give this an edge. O’Neills have created a shirt which is somehow both different, whilst sticking to club traditions. We like it.
Maidenhead United (Home)
Image from Maidenhead United.
Kelme are a brand rarely featured in non-league, but we couldn’t avoid their creation for Maidenhead’s home shirt in 2023/24.
Black and white stripes with the pattern overtaking the sleeves, a dash of red, it’s sublime. All finished off by a charity sponsor which supports those living with depression. Brilliant stuff.
We know we’ve likely missed plenty of amazing football shirts from non-league and grassroots, but hey, it’s pretty much impossible to keep up.
If you feel like we’ve missed a classic design, help us out and show us your club’s colours on social media!
