 After what seemed like an eternity trying, Latics gained entry to the Football League in 1978, and wore these colours for the first game at Hereford on 19 August 1978.This is a kit that many fans consider the best ever. A simple blue and white striped design with blue collars and Umbro logo, with blue shorts and white socks. Memories of: Ian Gillibrand |
 For 1982-1983 season Latics adopted a basically blue shirt, made by small company JSW. The shirt now bore a sponsor logo of Bulldog Tools, and the fashionable white pinstripes were de rigueur at the time. Memories of: Archie Gemmill |
 For 1983-1984 season Latics turned to a company called Hobott who produced many kits for lower League teams. The kit consisted of Hobott’s trademark shadow-stripe and dual piping. The kit was unsponsored for 1983-1984 but made a reappearance at the start of 1984-1985 with the Heinz logo. Memories of: Kevin Langley |
 1984-1985 saw a rather duller kit after September (earlier on Latics had worn the previous season’s Hobott kit) with a plain blue shadow-striped ensemble, enlivened only by the logo of Heinz. Memories of: Colin Methven |
 For 1985-1986 Latics kit was produced by New Balance. The kit was similar to the previous season’s with the inclusion of a broad white hoop and white trim. The shirts still were without a badge and are mainly remembered for the Freight Rover Trophy Final win over Brentford. Memories of: Mike Newell |
 For 1986-1987 Latics produced an innovative kit with a predominantly white shirt with unusual blue stripes across the shoulders. The kit, made by European firm Erima, blended well with the red sponsor logo. Memories of: Bobby Campbell |
 1987 saw a subtle change in design from the previous season following a change in supplier to Ellgren. While the basic structure of the 1986 kit was retained, an extra stripe was added at the shoulders and a much broader stripe added to the shorts. The socks had a white turnover. Memories of: Paul Jewell |
 Keeping up the tradition of changing the kit every year 1988-1989 season started with Latics wearing another innovative kit. The diagonally halved shirts trimmed in red were unusual, although opinion about them, was (like the shirts themselves) split. Unfortunately the Heinz logo did not stand out well on blue, so was crammed into the white upper portion along with the club badge and Ellgren’s logo. Memories of: Don Page |
 For 1989 Latics adopted a plain blue shirt with a white collar. The Heinz sponsor logo was altered to include blue lettering on a white background, making it stand out from the shirt. The club badge also changed from the ever-popular “tree and crown” badge to the Borough coat of arms – heraldically sound, but felt by many to be without soul. Latics retained this kit through to 1991. Memories of: Peter Atherton |
 Although the design was simple and actually quite pleasing, the kit used in the two seasons 1991 to 1993 were spoiled by the fabric that it was made from (a rather “plasticky” feel), and the fact that it was worn by one of the poorest Latics’ teams since joining the league – a team that suffered the only relegation in the club’s history. Made by Matchwinner (there’s a Trades Description claim if ever there was one!) the shirt featured a new style Heinz logo which stood out on the plain blue shirts. Memories of: Bryan Griffiths |
 In 1993 Latics turned their eyes to the Continent and adopted a unique in the League Inter Milan-style kit of blue and black stripes. Unfortunately performances on the pitch were not of San Siro quality. Memories of: Andy Lyons |
 For the start of the 1994-1995 season Latics retained the Inter Milan look, but with a more stylish update. The blue was now of a lighter tone, and the number of stripes were reduced. The shorts now carried a blue trim, and the socks were of Inter Milan style black with blue tops. Most significantly though was the change of sponsor – JJB now appears on the shirts. Memories of: Mark Leonard |
 For the next three seasons Latics turned to Puma for their kit, and with Dave Whelan now firmly in control the JJB corporate colours of blue, white and green appeared in this eye-catching design – the same shirts as worn by sales staff in JJB shops countrywide. It was a popular kit, being worn by the Three Amigos, in particular in the 1996-1997 season when the team started their rise by winning the Second Division title. The shirts sported a welcome, but only temporary, return to the “Tree and Crown” badge. Memories of: Roberto Martinez |
 First worn in the last game of the 1997-1998 season at home to Millwall, this basically all blue kit was worn through 1998-2000, the period of transition from Springfield Park to the JJB Stadium.The green on the kit has now been reduced to trim down the sleeves and round the neck and shorts. Adidas became main kit suppliers and this kit was the first to feature the number on the shorts. Memories of: Stuart Barlow |
 For the play-offs at the end of the 1999-2000 season, including the final at Wembley, Latics sported their new kit. Again from Adidas the all blue strip had a green band across the shirt, with a return to collars, as well as the Adidas trademark triple striped trim. This kit was worn for seasons 2000-2002. Memories of: Andy Liddell |
 For 2002-2003 season Latics changed kit designer again, this time using French company Patrick. And this all blue kit, similar in basic design to the 1998-2000 kit, saw Latics storm their way out of Division 2 with a 100 points. Memories of: Neil Roberts |
 Now in the heady heights of what was then Division One Latics moved part way to satisfying fans’ calls for a return to blue and white stripes with this blue kit with white pinstripes and broader stripes on the sleeves. The kit was retained after the disappointment of the first season in the higher League when a last minute goal saw them miss out on a play-off spot. For 2004-2005 season this kit saw Latics clinch promotion to the Premiership with second place in the renamed Championship – although this was not worn in the final game of the season. Memories of: Nathan Ellington |
 Latics finally reached the Promised Land of the Premiership with a 3-1 win over Reading at the end of the 2004-2005 season, and wore this kit for the occasion. Returning to their roots of blue and white stripes this kit was made by, as well as sponsored by JJB. The kit proved exceedingly popular through a successful first season in the higher echelon, including a memorable, albeit disappointing, Carling Cup Final in Cardiff against Manchester United. Memories of: Jimmy Bullard |
 For their second season in the Premiership 2006-2007 Latics reverted to a plain blue outfit with white sleeves, with gold trim. The blue appeared lighter than previous years. Renowned for being the kit worn in the dramatic last day win at Bramall Lane which ensured Premier League survival, but not one that really got the fans’ interest. Memories of: Lee McCulloch |
 Back to a big-name producer for 2007-2008, this time Umbro, and a return to the much favoured stripes. Now we have much broader stripes with a small shadow stripe down each broad stripe. A feature (not visible in this illustration) is a rather abstract white flecked design under the sleeves. Fairly uncomplicated but quite stylish. Memories of: Emile Heskey |
 Retaining a place in the Premier League for a fourth season was a major achievement, and 2008-2009 season saw another new kit producer, Champion. Although not renowned for stylish kits they came up with a real winner, with very clear lines of broad stripes. Along with a new manufacturer came a new badge for the club, reverted in essence to the Tree and Crown, while club sponsors JJB Sports, under new ownership after Dave Whelan’s sale of the chain, also produced a new logo. Memories of: Titus Bramble |
 A fifth year in the Premier League. While retaining the much-favoured blue and white stripes, Latics move supplier again – this time to Vandanel, a company more known for producing kits for lower Divisions, but nonetheless very stylish kits. The blue is a slightly different shade to that in the past few years. With Dave Whelan’s connection to JJB now at an end a new sponsor, the betting company 188Bet. Junior replica kits did not show the sponsor logo. Memories of: Charles N’Zogbia |
 And so the dream goes on. Vandanel’s bankruptcy meant that Latics had to find a new kit producer, and go back to Dave Whelan’s subsidiaries – this time one called Mi-fit. The design had been leaked as one that Vandanel would have used. Back to a basically blue shirt, but retaining the theme of a stripe, this is a kit that actually grew in popularity. Once again 188 Bet provided the sponsorship. Memories of: Ali Al-Habsi |
 And so the dream goes on. Vandanel’s bankruptcy meant that Latics had to find a new kit producer, and go back to Dave Whelan’s subsidiaries – this time one called Mi-fit. The design had been leaked as one that Vandanel would have used. Back to a basically blue shirt, but retaining the theme of a stripe, this is a kit that actually grew in popularity. Once again 188 Bet provided the sponsorship. Memories of: Ali Al-Habsi |
