ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

A lighter topic...

I am sure that I am not the only blue who was somewhat disappointed by the "silver" away kit that the players were wearing last season. It was grey, dull and seemed to be an unattractive option for the loyal consumer when compared with the mighty Royal Blue Home colours. Tut tut to those in market research, I say. This season is a marked improvement, but I must confess to not being so content with the Home kit this year - it seems to be a generic Umbro, fill-in-your-colours attempt; some other clubs also have very similar kits, albeit in different colours. Everton should have attractive, unique kits, that the club knows its fan base approves of, thus boosting sales.

I have a potentially revolutionary suggestion... be prepared...

A few years ago I went to an away game at Southampton, which we won (2-0, I think). I re-discovered the programme yesterday, and noticed an interesting section: a choice of four different designs for the kits, home and away, for the next season. Fantastic — the fans were being utilised by the club to select the jerseys for the next season!

This would be a win-win situation for Everton Football Club. All that is needed is for the club to post a choice option on evertonfc.com, and allow us loyal blues to vote for our favourite choice. Out of 4 or 5 possiblilities, for example. The matchday programme could also include a way to vote for those less internet-inclined. Was there not recently a request on the website for a "Ways to improve the Programme" survey?

The club would save money on both the initial design phases and on market research costs! And the fans would feel as though they had a good input, and would be even more proud to buy and wear the new jersey every season.

I emailed the club about the possibility of this already (yet to get a response...), just wondered what you thought of the idea!
Louis Huglin, Uni of Warwick Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:08:48

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Comments

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Michael Tracey
1 Posted 28/10/2007 at 23:56:13

I thought the Kit from the 2003/04 season has been one of our best. Simple but effective. This seasons kit is too similar to all the other teams wearing umbro this season. Dont know about the vote though as The Club seems to fuck those up. Look at the last vote we had!

Stuart Laurie
2 Posted 29/10/2007 at 03:30:22

Clyde (the mighty bully wee) did the same thing at the end of last season and the new away kit is the best one in years! I agree with the Umbro Utd theme- something more original please?

Philip Howden
3 Posted 29/10/2007 at 09:54:54

Hull City are my second team, and they have been doing this in their programme for many years. It is always popular with a lot of people voting (text messages etc), and ensures that the kit the team run out in is the fans’ choice. It also means we don’t end up with the same as other clubs, just with different colours, and also keeps the kit a bit more traditional, with no flashy one-off ideas.

Guy Wilkinson
4 Posted 29/10/2007 at 13:50:13

We should have the pink kit as our away strip. It looks brilliant and would sell well as a fashion item on its own.

Gaz Davies
5 Posted 29/10/2007 at 16:00:28

It’s a very good idea, but i’d still prefer it if we only introduced 1 kit per season instead of 2 or 3.

I don’t think we’ll be any nearer to an ’individual’ kit design either, what with Nike’s impending aquisition of Umbro there’ll be even more teams wearing altered versions of the same kit next year.

Still, could be worse - could have a kit like Portsmouth’s!

Also, the Pink kit is fantastic as a marketing idea, and to generate some extra income but it would be horrible as an away kit!
Everton also mention that they had to seek permission from the Premierleague before they could make another 1,000 for general sale: does anyone know why this is? Surely it’s just classed as any other merchandise?