Napa Valley 1839 FC’s 2019 Home Shirt

Founded in 2016 by Josh Goss, Arik Housley, Jonathan Collura, and Michael Hitchcock, Napa Valley 1839 FC began play in 2017 outfitted in kits by Adidas. Then then moved to Stimulus in 2018 and this year, the club was wearing custom kits made by FBT, or Football Thai Factory Sporting Goods Co, Ltd. The new shirts are absolutely stunning so we reached out to Napa to get the story on their threads—Daniel Morales, their marketing and social media contact answered our emails.

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First Adidas and then Stimulus, now FBT - what led you away from the big-name kit supplier and into the realm of custom design? FBT is not a well-known brand in the US, why did you go with them?

It’s been three different kit brands we’ve worn. As you mentioned we started with Adidas. Ownership decided for such brand to keep the consistency between Napa Valley 1839 FC and our youth development club Napa United. This consistency continued with Stimulus and our Napa United 1839 Academy teams. Stimulus allowed us to design what we wanted and not go with generic designs that top brands offer.

The two tones of green make the new shirts by Thai manufacturer FBT really pop on the pitch (Photo: Don Lex)

This year's shirt is phenomenal, does the design come from within the club or do you let FBT know what you're looking for and they come up with something? What's the story of Napa 1839's aesthetic? Who designed the badge, what are the meaningful elements and why are the vivid colors such an important part of your branding?

One of our part owners, Joshua Goss is a big fan of jersey designs. He wanted even more creative freedom and FBT offered that to us. Mr. Goss wanted our kit to represent the Napa Valley, just like our crest. And indeed, it does, Chris Payne is not only the designer of the 1839 FC crest but also our current jerseys. Chris did in amazing job in bringing the Napa Valley vineyards to life in our kits. You see two tones of green and the patterns vineyards take all over our Valley.

We love our kit! By far we all agree that the 2019 kit designed by Chris Payne is our favorite out of the three so far. It represents our Valley very well and pays honor to all those who work very hard to maintain the vineyards looking beautiful. If it wasn’t for them, perhaps this jersey wouldn’t exist today. Our away kits have the same design but in all burgundy to represent the red wines.

The kids of Napa United, their affiliated youth soccer organization, look great in green (Photo: Don Lex)

What are some other clubs from around NPSL, UPSL or other leagues, whose kit YOU love? Does seeing other clubs rock unique shirts inspire you to do something even more special with Napa 1839's?

I’d have to say that I am also a big fan of the FC Davis kits, it’s a very unique design that I haven’t seen anything similar anywhere else.

The new Oakland Roots kits are also very nice, it’s simple but very clean and the numbers have that wonderful vibrant design.

Some clubs have found ways to get their shirts on consignment into local retail shops - it’s a clever way to sell a shirt when it’s not matchday. Do you have any arrangements like this? How can fans and kitnerds get their hands on your shirts and other gear?

Our kits at the moment are only sold online and at our home matches. We had not discussed with any merchants about selling our products.

The kits are only available on matchdays and online

For more information, or to pick up a kit from Napa Valley 1839 FC.

- Joshua Duder

Designing PDX FC

PDX FC, of the NPSL, has worked with Hummel as their apparel provider since its founding in 2017. For the first two year, the club proudly wore the Danish brand’s standard Core SS soccer jersey. However, behind the scenes they were working with Hummel to put out a custom jersey which accomplished two things: kept within the guidelines of their branding, to connect to the city of Portland, Oregon and to release a shirt that somebody on the other side of the country would want to wear. Mission accomplished.

The shirt was released mid-week sometime in May and within 48 hours, some sizes were sold out—this was unexpected and more shirts had to be requested from Hummel to fulfill the orders. Orders had shipped out to New York, California, and as far as Argentina and England. For something which took nearly a year to be completed, it was a bit of surprise to see the positive reactions. They knew the design was sophisticated but fell within the comfort zone of soccer fans, but really, the kit was always meant to lend the PDX FC squad an identifiable on-pitch branding.

Since the new kit’s debut, PDX FC have beat their Portland rival twice – it might be one to keep

From the onset, the club had always worn black and gold, with white as the alternate top. While some soccer fans love all black kits, others think they’re just a marketing gimmick and that clubs should stick to their team’s colors. For PDX FC, this is both and the results are elegant and original. Despite having reworked their badge in 2018, the team’s owners, Luke and Max Babson, insisted on sticking with the original colorways and it was a great choice – few clubs have a badge and a kit which stand out as original and professional.

From discussion early on in the discussion of a custom-designed soccer jersey, it was an imperative to make sure the design for the home shirt wasn’t too experimental, and worked within the norms of what soccer fans are used to seeing. Fans in Portland have always coveted a “Hoops” look and at the onset of planning, it was decided to go that route, but use subtlety rather than a big bold design to accomplish this. Sketches for both a black kit with gold trim, as well as a white kit with gold trim, were submitted to Hummel to create test kits. Both Alfonso Poblete, of Santiago, Chile and Portland soccer supporter, Aaron Flynn contributed to creating the 3D modeling which gave Hummel the guidance to create their mock-up templates.

This initial 3D modeling by Alfonso Poblete, was beautifully done and selected from a handful of images he produced for Hummel to create their mock-ups and tester kits.

When the test kits arrived in the fall of 2018, it was decided that the colors might need a slight adjustment, and that the club wanted to make space on the shirt for sponsors – this meant that the plan for sublimation and production had to wait until the sponsors and their respective location on the shirt had been decided upon. If you work in soccer in America, at this level, then you understand that this had the potential to be a lengthily postponement, but absolutely necessary to ensure that the sponsors would be well-represented on the shirts and that no additional printed would have to be done, getting all branding sublimated would be cost effective and ensure the longevity of the branding on the shirts.

Hummel turned the original sketches into pre-production kit mock-ups. Only one each of either shirt was ever made.

By early Spring 2019, the sponsors’ location on the shirt had been decided upon and the final draft was sent off to Hummel to produce the primary kits. Budgets at this level of soccer are tight… like, very very tight. So only one of the two designs could be made. The owners went with creating a custom “home” kit first and sat on the design for the alternate, or “away” whites. Instead, they stuck with the tried and tested Hummel Core SS and added a couple of Hummel’s keepers kits to the order. In that time, PDX FC’s season began and they would be found wearing the alternates, which they luckily already had.

As the weeks went by, anticipation grew, everyone was eager to see something which took so much care to finalize. Finally, the call came in from the owner that the shirts were in, and that they looked as amazing, if not better, than expected! The announcement was made on social media, the product was added to the club’s online shop and before their first match in the shirts, they had sold out of a couple sizes and generated a little excitement. Since their release, the club have picked up a few wins in the league and looked pretty good doing it!

- Joshua Duder

PDX FC, of the NPSL Northwest, look good and feel good in their black & gold Hummel kits.

For more information about PDX FC, or to check out their online shop: https://www.pdxfc.com/

Chattanooga FC: Going Professional

Last week, Chattanooga FC released their new kits ahead of their 2019 season, which will conclude with the Founder’s Cup as the team goes professional. At first glance, the three kits are not exactly as creative as you would expect to see from Chattanooga, but once you begin to look at some of the smaller details, they are quite incredible.

Designed by Chattanooga FC’s own Paul Rustand and his team at Widgets & Stones, the kits feature the Volkswagen logo across the chest, as kits have for the many years now. The club’s badge sits on top of the wearer’s heart, with the Inaria logo on the other side of the chest. The right sleeve features the name of another sponsor, power and telecommunications provider EPB, while the back features CHI Memorial and The Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics.

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The away kits are a beautiful baby blue with white stripes. The home kits are navy blue with lighter blue arrows, while the keeper’s kit is orange with a small diamond design all over. They are all reminiscent of kits of old, but still have a modern and simple twist on them. That was Rustand’s goal, as he said “The inspiration was of course our decade long history of kits and core brand elements that we sought to honor. But at the same time we are seeking to expand the palette of styles.”

Easily one of my favorite parts of the kits are the small “X” made in the design on all three kits. It sits right on top of the crest and it a beautiful, but subtle design choice. According to Rustand, it is a nod to VFL Wolfsburg’s 2018-19 green home kit. But that is not the only underlying meaning to the symbol, as Rustand continued by saying, "more importantly the Roman numeral for 10 – since we are celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2019.”

Image courtesy of Chattanooga FC.

All in all, the kits represent Chattanooga FC wonderfully. They appear somewhat simple when you just glance at them, but once you actually start to look at the smaller details, it becomes more and more complex and more and more beautiful. That’s the way I personally like uniforms. Flashy kits are nice and all, but the classic kit with subtle details are some of the best works of art you will see on a soccer kit. Chattanooga FC captures that with a kit that is fit for a top level club.

- Aarik Long

Kit images courtesy of Inaria Soccer social media.

A New Look Rooster

As the years come and go, a team will begin to notice when it is time for a change. Having finished one position from a playoff spot for three straight seasons, the past two being only three points away, the Rhode Island Reds have reached that time for change. They began play in the 2012 NPSL season and, after 7 seasons, the Reds are looking for their first playoff opportunity again this year. With that optimism, Kabba Joof, the founder and chairman of the club, along with club President Rubin Paz and head of Community Outreach Mike Simeone, have decided to go with a fresh start for a new chapter in the team's story.

The original logo.

The team is named after the Rhode Island state bird and the badge maintains the Red at its focal point. They have received their new look badge from graphic designer @danygraff. They have maintained the 13 stars representing their home as the 13th state, the anchor from the Rhode Island flag, and the 2012 inaugural season on their badge. The club website explains why it kept many of the same elements during this change. The new look reflects the work that has been put in by the players and staff and they hope that by keeping the key elements they are "ensuring a level of respect, family, hope, and positiveness to its Players, Fans, and Volunteers of all levels while still maintaining the symbolic Rhode Island State symbols."

The club has teamed up with the Portuguese brand G-Sport to produce its shirts for a second year. They have taken the idea of change and completely revamped their look. As Kabba explained, "If new logo design, why not a new shirt." They have moved from last year's plain red or blue and yellow blocks of color to bold new patterns. Working with G-Sport allowed the Reds to create the shirt the way that they wanted. Kabba explained that he is generally more conservative in his soccer, but Paz, a Portuguese American, saw this as a chance to work with a company that has produced many shirts for amateur clubs in Portugal. Even though he was "concerned about getting too close to the edge" he likes the shirt because it is different. The Reds are the first team in the United States to have kits from G-Sport and sees this as the next step in their efforts. G-Sport has worked with smaller soccer teams and as Kabba put it, all aspects of the "game starts on the grassroots level."

The new kits. Image courtesy of Rhode Island Reds FC.

Last year, they gave their title sponsor spot away to a non-profit: the March of Dimes. Their main sponsor this year is Beard Care Club. They saw this partnership as a chance to show their growth and their connection to the community. The owner spent the 1990's in New England after he left the army and has maintained a friendship with the club. "My family and I have been football (soccer) fans as far as I can remember. When we were approached about the possibility of being a sponsor for the Rhode Island Reds FC we were ecstatic and had to jump on it," owner Donny Salazar said in the press release about their partnership.

Club players trying on the new kits. Image courtesy of Rhode Island Reds FC.

The Rhode Island Reds believe that they have improved on and off the field. The organization and team are evolving from one of the older teams in the Northeast and NPSL as they step up their game.They are using their history and belief in the bottom-up development of soccer to promote their future.

Their shirts are available at their website and if interested, they still have a few tee shirts available with the old logo as well.

- Andy Rittenhouse

Oakland Stompers: NASL Era Kits for a Modern Age

Born from the comings and goings of the NASL’s sordid past—a league who allowed clubs to leave in the middle of the night, set up shop in a new town, give birth to new soccer fans, just to pack up a move again—The Oakland Stompers came to the Bay Area in 1977-78 after leaving Connecticut under those exact circumstances. They would only stay for one season, and although there was another NASL team in San Jose, some Stompers fans never forgot the heights of having a team of their own in the first division of US Soccer.

Shep Messing, well-known for his time in both the NY Cosmos, as well as his full spread reveal in Playgirl Magazine, came to Oakland with the Stompers in 1977-78. The former teamate of Pele, Giorgia Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer became the highest paid player in the league that year, making a cool $100,000 for the season. He and his 1978 soccer team would play in the cavernous Oakland Colliseum, which was also the home of the Oakland A’s (World Series winners in 1974) and the Oakland Raiders (Superbowl Champions of 1976); the East Bay had a recent history winners and a fiercely loyal fanbase.

Shep Messing Played in the iconic Oakland Stompers kit of 1978.

Although the club inevitably left a year later, as NASL clubs were prone to do, the single season left a lasting impact on soccer fans in the cities which make up the East Bay Area; Hayward, San Leandro, Richmond, Fremont, and of course, Oakland. So decades later, when given the chance to start a brand new club to join the NPSL in 2012, the owners borrowed over the nickname Stompers—it was a natural decision, of course, they had been using the nickname for years anyways for their youth teams. Along with the name, came the inspiration for their kits, and now the Oakland Stompers of the UPSL wear their heritage on ther back. We asked Stompers’ President and General Manager, William Forte, for the lowdown on their kits and common denominators between the current Stompers and the connection to their namesakes. He spoiled us with photos of the kits during their WIP (Work in progress) stages and confirmed the historic backdrop of the Stompers in Oakland.

The 1978 NASL Oakland Stompers in their away whites.

Could you explain the history and meaning of Stompers in the Bay Area?

The Stompers were the last top tier professional soccer team to play in the East Bay/Oakland.  That was over 40 years ago.  The original logo had grapes in it to represent the Northern California region of wine country.  So, the significance was from grape stomping which is a big process of turning the grapes in to wine.  The 1978 NASL team had cheerleaders named the Corkpoppers.

After the team folded in 1978 a number of youth clubs carried on the Stompers name.  Our club was formed in the East Bay on the youth side named after the Stompers that lasted from 1984- the mid 90's and had the Stompers, Stompettes, and lil' Stompers.  We brought back the club in 2008/09 as a men's team hoping to climb the ranks of US Soccer to bring the Stompers back to the heights of pro soccer representing Oakland.  After a decade of obstacles, we have finally brought the Stompers back home to Oakland where it all began and where we belong!

Four decades later, the 2018 Oakland Stompers in their beautiful light blue shirts.

Who is your provider and why did you settle on them?

Our jersey brand is Recnball.  It is our own brand that we are developing along the way.  We paired with soccermagic.com because they allowed us to fully customize our own brand.  I think having complete creative control on this project was important to us.  Soccermagic.com allowed us to do that.  I recommend them to anybody who is looking to have their own unique style and creative control.

How long was the process of design and choosing the right kit provider?

The revitalization of the original jersey was a plan since the club reemerged in 2008/2009. The current plan was to reveal the throwbacks Spring 2018 for the East Bay FC Stompers and do a 40-year throwback season.  We were not able to accomplish that on time.  We were able to bring out the blue kits in the Fall as we brought back the Oakland Stompers for a 40-year commemoration season. 

This Spring we plan to continue the honor to the original Oakland Stompers with revealing here first the unveiling of the 1978 Oakland Stompers white throwback kits which will be our second kit for both the East Bay FC Stompers and the Oakland Stompers as we continue our throwback season tribute. After we decided on SoccerMagic.com the current process to get to this point has taken us over a year to get things the way we wanted them.

 We have thrown around working with bigger name brands but currently we like our own creative freedom with our own brand and SoccerMagic.com.  If we did go with a more reputable brand the current front runners would be Hummel as their Northern California representative Kevin Campbell has been nothing but awesome to us.  We like how a custom blue and gold Hummel chevrons on the shoulder would fit in our style but allow us to become completely modern and our own new East Bay/Oakland Stompers stamp on US Soccer history.  Be on the lookout for a completely new Stompers look in 2020!

For more information about the current UPSL Oakland Stompers: https://www.oaklandstompers.com/

- Joshua Duder

Ranking the Kits of Founders Cup Clubs

Founders Cup is right around the corner, and boy is everyone excited. Sure the NPSL professional division doesn’t have the D3 sanctioning like some other leagues, but NPSL has the heart of a true soccer league. That heart and ethos is something that the entire soccer community is craving. So, for this week’s Uniformity I take a kit from each club and rank them making my top eleven.

11. Oakland Roots Sports Club

This was an easy last place, because let’s be fair, the Roots don’t have a kit yet. Now I can imagine that if I were to revisit this segment during the season, the Roots would be challenging the top clubs. Branding and Oakland Roots SC have had a unique relationship that continues to evolve, and if you haven’t already check out my piece I wrote a few weeks back: Organic and Raw.

Image courtesy of Cal FC.

10. CAL FOOTBALL CLUB

While Cal FC will be a force on the field, the club’s kits lack any sort of fashionable elements. Clubs from Southern California should strive to have some of the best merchandise, because so much fashion and personality comes from the region. Every grassroot club may not have the ambition to grow its brand with fashion, but if Cal FC does intend to create a customized kit it will most likely reflect the very fashionable state that the club represents.

9. ALBION SOCCER CLUB SAN DIEGO

ASC San Diego has fielded a variety of jerseys, but the one that I like most is the blue and white hoops. A very traditional design that pops, because of the bright hue of the blue. I believe the this kit is an older variant, but it definitely sticks out, especially with the hoops on the socks.

Image courtesy of Milwaukee Torrent.

8. MILWAUKEE TORRENT

Half baby blue and half grey, this kit is one of the more unique fashion statements in grassroots soccer. Two elements that fit very well on the jersey is the all white logo, that takes up the entire stomach and the alternate sleeve colors.

7. FOOTBALL CLUB ARIZONA

Yellow on a jersey is meant to be bold and stand out, a fitting style for FC Arizona. The chest is covered in a yellow block, that slowly cascades into smaller and smaller hoops, eventually becoming navy blue. The FC Arizona style of play will fascinate the audience and it will always be easy to stop the players on the pitch.

Image courtesy of Daily Detroit.

6. DETROIT CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

DCFC’s rouge color palette mixed with the gold accents, make one luxurious kit. Alternating red stripes gives the perfect canvas to showcase the jersey sponsor, club crest and kit manufacturer, but it is really those accents that just create an overall piece that locks into the clubs branding. Detroit City also carries a few alternates, like the all white with a maroon polo collar.

5. NAPA VALLEY 1839 FOOTBALL CLUB

I love a green kit and this one uses a monochromatic color scheme that just looks slick. Napa Valley’s crest has always been highly rated by those within Protagonist and this one jersey does not disappoint. The abstract design that uses the bright green and forest green steers away from a traditional stripes, like in the Detroit City jersey.  The unique style makes the 1839 kit the best in the West.

Image courtesy of Chattanooga FC.

4. CHATTANOOGA FOOTBALL CLUB

The people’s club offers a perfect design that makes the thousands of fans and owners look good. The navy blue base is trimmed with baby blue to make a clean look that can fit any outfit. But what makes this kit stand out is the soccer ball outline, comprised of thick hash marks, that is located in the club’s crest. Even the round Volkswagen logo just fits perfectly on the front of the jersey.

3. NEW YORK COSMOS

Another club that is known for its iconic green jersey, but that is not the kit that gets them ranked in third place. One of the cleanest looking kits in the Founders Cup is the all navy blue base with the cascading green stippling down the chest. On top of that sweet color combination is the sharpest sleeve trim I have ever seen on a jersey. The trim is made up of the three iconic colors in the Cosmos crest: baby blue, yellow and green.

2. MIAMI UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

The Miami United kit is one of my favorite pieces in grassroot soccer. My first ever Uniformity article was about Miami United FC. What stands out about this piece is how many unique elements lie within the kit. There are multicolored hoops, various hoop sizes, gold accents and a strong black background that helps each element pop off of the kit. The club could wear these kits for a decade and the look would never get old.

1. MIAMI FOOTBALL CLUB

Ranking in the top spot is Miami FC. The bright Miami color palette just stands out among any jersey in existence and while the club has multiple stylish jerseys, the best looking one is the pastel light blue polo with the orange sleeve. First a polo collar is the best look you can get on a jersey, it's what separates a soccer kit from all of the other sloppy sports jerseys. Second, the color combination is vibrant and reflects the community that it comes from. It is a perfect example of the art and fashion background of Miami.

Image courtesy of footballshirtculture.com.

As we get closer and closer to the kickoff of Founders Cup, I expect clubs to create new kits for their players and fans to wear. And by that time I hope that the West Region can produce more artistic kits that really show off the powerful brands they represent. But until that day, the East Region’s brands will reign supreme.

- Steven Ramirez

Syracuse FC

A slow start in a tough conference hasn’t stopped Syracuse FC from bringing a unique look and potent design to the Midwest-East conference. The club’s badge uses a striking combination of black, white, gold, and red to surge Syracuse to the top of a lower league design community that is constantly finding new ways to impress onlookers and the club’s image has continued to provide supporters with interesting scarves and kits.

The club’s main independent supporters’ group, Central Union 48, continues the club’s traditional colors and has created an equally iconic image.

The club collaborated with INARIA to create its 2018 kits. INARIA also created kits for clubs like the New York Cosmos and has created several custom designs that have received attention. The Toronto-based company has proven useful for both of its New York clients, amongst others like Kingston Stockade, also in New York, and Providence City FC.

Syracuse’s kits for 2018 were straight forward. Coming in maroon, white, and black, the kits all featured a white sash from the collar to the end of the right-side sleeve and featured two of the club’s sponsors on the front. The kits themselves are not rule breaking, but Syracuse’s fantastic beginnings in design should leave all lower league soccer fans interested in what the club has in store both on and off its kits for 2019 and the years to follow.

More attention, more seasons, and more experience will surely send more opportunities Syracuse’s way. All we lovers of the game can do is wait and see where the club goes on and off the pitch as it looks to become one of the big names in a Midwest region full of clubs pushing the boundaries in design.

- Dominic Bisogno

FCM Portland: A Fraternity with French Design and History

Continuing with our NPSL pre-season coverage, we stay out west for Uniformity this week and check in with 2018 semi-finalists FC Mulhouse Portland. Head Coach Sergio Medel was happy to tell us about the design on the shirts of his talented players from the Northwest Division. We haven’t seen a kit from Patrick yet and I was very curious about why a team from Portland, Oregon ended up with custom shirts from a relatively small sports apparel company based in Belgium.

Both the Blue and Whites kits from last year are bold and unique, what was the inspiration? Will there be a new kit for 2019?

The kit designs are the same as the partner club in Mulhouse, France. The Wheel design is the emblem of the City of Mulhouse found in all the city logos. There won’t be a new design until the 2019/20 season in France which begins in August of 2019. 

FCMP’s Jay Garmondeh (right) decked out in the club’s primary kit taking on a Kitsap Pumas player during a NPSL Northwest matchup (Photo: Kitsap Pumas social media)

How long was the process of design and choosing the right kit provider? Did anybody at the club get to help in the design process or does Patrick have a design team that does that work for the club? 

The design and production with Patrick (the kit company) takes approx. 6 weeks.  The Company is based in Belgium. The kit was designed by the club in France via sketch ideas, then the designers of Patrick sent Digital and eventually hard samples of the design.

I don't see Patrick used in the United States very often, why did you settle on them? What's the connection to FCMP? Did Patrick provide more than just kits? Training equipment too?  

The partner club in France Football Club Mulhouse is the one who has the connection with Patrick and therefore FCM Portland as well. Yes, Patrick provides more equipment for the French club, balls, goalie gear, pennies etc. Portland primarily uses the kits and warmup clothing.

The club’s secondary kit, custom designed for both FC Mulhouse clubs, on display before their 2018 Seasons. (Photo: FCMP Social Media)

Could you explain the history and meaning of the badge and the Portland club’s connection to the French side in Regional Ligue 3?

The badge was designed in France and again contains key elements to the history of the club which began in 1893.  The emblem contains the wheel of the city of Mulhouse.  This was a new logo for the club in France beginning when American Owner Gary Allen purchased the French club in January of 2017.  Gary was the President of the Portland club prior to turning it over to me as the new President of FCM Portland. I and the Portland club have a license agreement to use the logo and kits in Portland.

Club badges worn over the history of parent club FC Mulhouse of France’s 3rd Division—the wheel or cog is derived from the city’s coat of arms and represents the city’s historic connection to the textile, machinery and railroad industries.

If somebody wants a FCMP shirt, are they available? If so, where?  

Originally founded in 1892 as Patrick-Chaussures Techniques, Patrick now provides sports apparel to a multitude of organizations around the world, from Honduras to Kosovo and from Panama to Portland, Oregon. Both Kevin Keagan and Michel Platini were famous for wearing Patrick in the 1980s before the company decided to step out of the sponsorship wars over big time clubs and players. They are based out of Belgium and are the official apparel providers to the Belgian referee association.

Fan gear is available from France to include jerseys, beanies and scarfs all of which contain the logo and designs of the French club, almost identical to Portland so we are looking to integrate the same system locally.

For more information on FCMP, visit this site.

To Purchase a FC Mulhouse Kit from France

- Joshua Duder

Running in Rouge: Lower League Ingenuity at the Professional Level

Detroit City’s 2018 will likely be best remembered for its historic friendlies against the likes of St. Pauli, Necaxa, and Frosinone and its continued record setting when it comes to attendance, the club’s top-level kits are often a forgotten element of its ever-growing profile and personality. Protagonist had the chance to speak with Detroit’s Director of Media, Lindsey Pehrson in order to find out more about Detroit’s 2018 rendition of the rouge and gold.

2018 was not the first time Detroit had a winning look, a huge part of this comes down to smart color selection, “our team colors are Rouge and Gold.  Secondary colors include White, Black, Grey, Navy and Verdigris.” That combination of rouge and gold has been the flagship for a long run of great designs. The combination isn’t just rooted in good design, however, and is tied to the history of Detroit itself. “One aspect of the history of the Detroit area is a connection to France.  The Rouge River flows through SE Michigan and the Nain Rouge still haunts the streets every spring.”

Detroit’s 2018 kits, made by Adidas, were designed within the club per tradition, “We have always designed our own kits in-house.” This combines the professionalism of a global company like Adidas with the smart and free minded design of a fan-focused community club like Detroit City. This leaves us with a kit made by Adidas that doesn’t feel cookie cutter like many of the often-criticized MLS kits made by the same company.

The club doesn’t stop at a good pair of colors and has used traditional kit motifs like stripes, hoops, and buttoned collars to elevate their kits, again combining modern and authentic ideas with classic concepts found on kits for over a century. Pehrson explained that this combination of eras has helped the club visualize the professional look it strives for, “as a club we have always strove for a professional and timeless look for our kits. Hoops, stripes, collars, solids are all good examples of this aesthetic.”

One of the more interesting aspects of Detroit’s kits is that they stand out as an example for what soccer can be outside of the establishment while still utilizing big brands, in this case Adidas and Lyft. “Since our founding, we have only kitted out our players in two brands - first Nike and now Adidas - and we have been happy with the look and quality those brands have provided. As for sponsorship, strong partner relationships are a vital part to running a successful organization.  We built a great relationship with Lyft in 2018, and we are hopeful that partnership continues.  Any sponsorship agreement is multi-faceted, but an important aspect is ensuring a tasteful and professional presentation of the partner brand.” Detroit City’s success with brands of that scale shows that upper-pyramid clubs don’t have to have a monopoly on sponsorships of nationwide or global substance.

2018 was a great year for Detroit in many ways, but the club is far from done. With the Founders Cup and another shot at NPSL glory on the ropes, the club will surely aim to break new barriers with its next look. “Our 2019 kits will be our best-looking kits yet and will be the perfect look for making the move to fielding a professional roster.”

• Dominic Bisogno

Rebranding for Authenticity

For clarity, Icarus FC does advertise with our site. It just so happens they keep making the freshest kits!

If you are not living in the Philadelphia area, you would be forgiven for thinking Lone Star FC was a Texan club. However, anyone in and around Philadelphia could tell you that Philadelphia Lone Star FC is an absolute institution in the city. The club was founded as Junior Lone Star FC in 2001 by Liberian immigrants, whose heritage is drawn on as inspiration for the “Lone Star” name referencing the lone star on the Liberian flag. The club has come to be known as one of the foremost professional development clubs on the east coast, growing from a single squad when it was founded to a club that fields teams in the NPSL’s Keystone Conference and the UPSL’s Northeast Conference. They’ve provided Philadelphia’s amateur footballers, and in particular those of African descent and heritage, with countless opportunities for further development in the sport.

This connection to Philadelphia fueled the club’s desire to rebrand last year and they adopted the name Philadelphia Lone Star. The club adopted a new crest to go along with its new name, ditching a “Barcelona”-shaped badge in favor of a cleaner pointed shield. The crest is not only a slick design, but it also does a simple design in a way that does not feel overly generic or unimaginative. The Liberty Bell is a simple homage to the city these players now call home but the club has not abandoned its own history in the process.

Lone Star FC took this connection to their city a step further as they prepared for the 2019 season by linking up with local kit designer Icarus Football. “Philly Lone Star is a big name around here,” said Icarus when asked about the partnership. “We really wanted to make sure we put together kits that would reflect their stature in the community.”

Based on the badge above, it would have been fairly simple for Icarus to look at this as a straightforward project. Red, white, blue...there’s 10000 high school, college, amateur, and professional soccer teams (not to mention the National Teams) in the US that use the same color scheme. Lone Star getting the template treatment that we see so often in major club and international football would have been simple. Icarus did not take that route whatsoever as they produced four fantastically unique kits.

Home

The impressive thing about this home kit is that it feels both familiar and unique all in one effortless stroke. Wearing sky blue with white shorts could have been a chance to look like a Manchester City copycat, but the Liberty Bells down the sleeves and sides of the shorts evoke a Philadelphia version of the classic Kappa designs from Serie A. The red trim pops in a way that you might not expect against the light blue, while the sublimated Star design makes it so Philadelphia Lone Star is embodied throughout the kit. An impressive effort from top to bottom.

Away

The Away Kit is another stunning effort. The red-over-red with the sublimated stars ties this design back to the home kit but it is the pattern on the sleeves and down the shorts that is the true star of the show here. We have seen, especially with Nike’s recent templates, the effort to make different colored sleeves the unique element of a kit. Icarus has taken that idea and cranked the creativity through the roof, implementing a pattern inspired by West African fabric patterns to create something truly splendid.

Third

Philadelphia Lone Star’s Third Kit serves the dual function of being gorgeous and aiding a worthy cause. During the middle of the NPSL season, Lone Star will wear this kit in conjunction with a campaign to raise money for juvenile cancer research. Such a campaign should succeed on its own merits, but this design is a fantastic advertisement. The pink and black color scheme has an extremely modern feel to it without it feeling garish. The black and white version of the crest is, quite frankly, badass. The star details down the sleeves and shorts add a nice touch, but the sublimated design again steals the show, with a lovely hoop design culminating near the collar in the Philadelphia skyline. A kit that accomplishes this much both aesthetically and in helping those in need is extremely admirable and I hope this kit gets the attention it deserves.

Fourth

There is something so striking about a well-executed white kit. When that kit has a sublimated spotted print and a unique pattern down the sleeves, you have something special on your hands. The aforementioned pattern extends from the collar, down the sleeves, and down the shorts, with the numbers on the kit itself containing the pattern as well. This kit again brings Lone Stars African roots to the forefront. This celebration of the club’s heritage is evident in each design but this particular design feels like a celebration in and of itself. I, for one, am extremely here for it. This kit will act as a fourth kit for the NPSL squad and will serve as the UPSL squad’s home kit. This may be premature, but I would shortlist this kit for one of the best in UPSL for the Spring Season.

Philadelphia Lone Star FC are embarking on a new chapter of their history in 2019 and with this new identity that links their current home to the club’s African heritage, the club is emphasizing what we all love and idealize about the United States and the game of soccer: The opportunity to succeed no matter your background. This club is admirable for its ideals and history, and now we can all look on and admire the kits as well.

- Phil Baki

Dallas City FC: A Tradition of Style

During this Thanksgiving week we all take a look at all the things we are thankful for. Personally, I am thankful for my friends, family, and of course American soccer. While a few jerseys hang in my closet, I have multiple U.S. National Team jerseys. I definitely understand the multitude of  problems within the federation, but there is a sense of pride when I represent the Stars and Stripes. While digging through social media and the various clubs within our lower league system, I stumbled upon one gem that combined my love for the red, white and blue and my love for lower league soccer.

Dallas City FC was established in 2013 and has played in various leagues while earning multiple trophies. In 2014, Dallas was crowned spring champion of the Metro Soccer League and in the same year won the Trinity River Cup, beating the Fort Worth Vaqueros in two-legged affair. It went on to join the NPSL for a few seasons and currently competes in the UPSL Central Conference North Division.

Dallas City Futbol Club has a rich history of sporting fashionable kits, but always represents the red, white, and blue. In 2017 its kit was an inverted version of my favorite U.S. National team jersey the “bomb pop.” Dallas' version saw the bottom and main body of the kit all blue, a white stripe at chest level, and red around the shoulder and collar. The club also sports an all white alternate that is filled with lightly tinted red and blue stars.

This year’s kit lives up to Dallas City FC's remarkable line of jerseys. From the bottom up, blue and red stripes alternate until they reach chest level where the lone white stripe sits. Within the blue stripes lay blue stars that shine from a distance, while the red stripes offer a great contrast that helps the kit pop. My favorite element is the subtle Dallas skyline within the white stripe, a traditional element within many of the club’s jerseys throughout the years.

I tend to look at its kits in the eyes of an American soccer fan. I see the elements of our country’s flag and think of how it reflects my favorite soccer team, the United States National Team. But for citizens of Dallas and all Texans alike, this kit has more than just country pride; it's also a reflection of their community. We've all seen the Texas state flag and if somehow you haven't, just peer at the Dallas City FC crest. Dallas' city flag is similar to the Texas flag, but one focus is on the horizontal split between the red and blue tones. This white hoop traverses the whole map, similar to multiple Dallas City FC jerseys.

All of these elements key on to the essence of branding a soccer club: reflecting your community. Of course many fans from around the country can look at this kit as a cool alternate to wear on National Team game day, but a Texan can wear it everyday as a symbol of pride. Pride for their city, pride for their state and pride for their local soccer club. For Dallas City FC, the process of creating a jersey has never been an as easy picking a template and running with it. With each year and each kit adding to a tradition- a tradition of style.

- Steven Ramirez