42. Reebok Cardiff (1999-2001)

Graphic showing examples of the Reebok Cardiff shirt template

Chris Oakley | 1 November 2024

As we approach the last 40 templates in this series (finally), it’s possible that some of you will be assessing my choice of subject matter with even more scrutiny. We’re getting to what’s known as ‘the business end,’ and that means there’s less opportunity for forgiveness from you if I suggest a template you all think is terrible.

So before things get too critical, I might as well get this next selection out of the way. If I had any sort of reputation for integrity or popularity, it might have been badly tarnished by my suggestion that the Reebok Cardiff template is so good. Luckily, I’ve got very little left to jeopardise, so I can’t be intimidated into saying something more universally accepted.

From left: Andorra (1999 home and away), Aston Villa (1999-2000 away), Bastia (1999 away).

I love this template because it’s so simple, yet innovates in a way so subtle that many people would probably take for granted. In short, it took the traditional ‘bottom-left-to-top-right’ diagonal sash and injected new life into it by reversing the diagonal and then splitting it on the diagonal.

You might think that doesn’t amount to anything revolutionary, but therein lies the beauty of what Reebok achieved. For years, we were used to seeing diagonal sashes featuring two equal-width stripes in different colours heading upwards towards the left shoulder. All very nice, all very ‘safe.’ Back in the 1975-76 season, however, we had a rare sight of creativity when Umbro dished out three diagonal stripes and flipped them backwards for Stoke City’s away kit. That said, each stripe was separated by a gap, so was it still a sash, technically, or was it three?

Whatever your take on that side issue, it was probably the only instance I can recall up to that point of any kit supplier trying a different take on what you might call ‘the Crystal Palace look.’ Reebok, however, made the diagonal slightly shorter and shallower, and slashed it across opposite corners to create the two coloured sections. If you’re still unimpressed, ask yourself why no-one had every thought of the idea before.

From left: Besiktas (1999-2000 away), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2000 away), Borussia Mönchengladbach (1999-2000 away), Crewe Alexandra (1999-2001 away).

I remember being highly impressed with the design when I first saw it being worn by Aston Villa and Liverpool in the dying days of the last millennium. What’s perhaps a little odd is that then, as now, I never felt that the diagonal sash was weakened by the sponsor logo crashing through the middle and causing an unfortunate interruption. Somehow, I feel that the sponsor logo makes the sash look better, or vice versa. How can that be?

Strangely enough, Sporting CP bucked the trend set by other clubs in simply overlaying their sponsor logo above the diagonal sash without truncating the space around it. Whether that was due to the somewhat square space that the logo occupied or its awkward T shape, I’m not sure. Perhaps the more subtle incline of the sash (compared to other versions) provides us with a clue.

With this template design, we have another fine example of how to incorporate a tertiary colour, and once again, it’s down to that sash. As I’ve probably said previously in this series, there is an art to balancing the presence of a second or third main colour on a football shirt. Make them too noticeable and the primary colour ends up being reduced in prominence; make them too subtle and they’ll hardly be noticed. Reebok Cardiff makes use of the diagonal split beautifully by allowing some lovely colours to take their place in the spotlight without ever being annoying.

From left: Hannover 96 (1999-2000 home), Liverpool (1999-2000 away / 2000-01 third), Sporting CP (1999-2000 away), FC Utrecht (1999-2000 away).

Across most versions of this design, you’ll find a winged collar that sits above a small v-neckline incorporating a similarly-sized triangular inset. Stopping just short of looking old-fashioned, the overall effect is a good one. Besiktas opted for a slightly different collar, but it, too, formed part of a coherent overall design.

Generally speaking for this template, any variations from team to team were minimal. In France, Bastia’s yellow away shirt had a shadow pattern consisting of repeating Reebok logos and club badges, yet this seems to be the only shadow pattern in the set. Three different versions of the Reebok logo crop up, including the Reebok wordmark, and several teams wore their crest inside a tiny shield container. Then again, some (such as FC Utrecht and Borussia Mönchengladbach) ditched the shield and showed off the crest without it. Hannover 96 and Andorra went further still by moving it away from the common central position and wore it on the left breast instead.

But these were really the only opportunities for teams to specify their own different details. The complete design was robust enough to look consistently good because of its strong foundation elements; the two-colour sash and the collar. Nothing more was needed, and in my view, that’s what makes it an excellent example of football shirt design.

 

To see the full set of Reebok Cardiff kits, visit the Reebok Cardiff template gallery page.

 

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