Football Kit Design Timeline

1979-80

Liverpool becomes the first Football League team to wear sponsored shirts. They bear the name of Japanese electronics company Hitachi, and would continue to do so until the end of the 1981-82 season.

Perugia becomes the first Italian Serie A club to wear sponsored shirts. A small version of the logo for Ponte (a maker of pasta products) appeared below the club badge and, technically, was not legal at this time. As the Italian football authorities only allowed a manufacturer logo to be shown, the club's then chairman, Franco D'Attoma, circumvented the rules by establishing a sportswear company called Ponte Sportswear.
(With thanks to Lucas Silveira Santos.)

12 September 1979

Scotland becomes the first international team to display player names on the backs of its shirts in a 1-1 friendly against Peru at Hampden Park.

13 May 1980

England wears its Admiral '1982 World Cup' home strip for the first time in a 3-1 win over Argentina at Wembley Stadium.