A football kit is the first thing people see when your team walks onto the pitch. Get it right and it pulls a squad together, looks sharp in photos and lasts a full season of training, matches and muddy washes. Get it wrong and you're stuck with a strip that clashes with another local side, badges that peel after three games, or shirts that don't fit half the team.
The good news is that designing a custom football kit is far simpler than most clubs expect — as long as you make the key decisions in the right order. This guide walks you through it step by step, whether you're kitting out a grassroots Sunday league side, a junior academy or a university club.
Step 1: Start with your colours
Your colours are the foundation of the whole design, so settle them first. Most clubs already have a traditional combination — claret and blue, red and white, green and black — but if you're a new team, this is your chance to choose something that stands out without clashing with the sides you'll regularly face.
A few practical pointers:
- Pick a clear primary and secondary colour. A dominant shirt colour with a contrasting trim, collar or sleeve reads well from the touchline and on camera.
- Plan your away kit at the same time. Choose an away strip that contrasts strongly with your home kit, ideally a light option and a dark option between the two, so you're covered for colour clashes.
- Think about your badge and sponsor. Your colours need to leave room for a crest and a sponsor logo to sit cleanly without disappearing into a busy background.
If you're unsure how a combination will look on an actual shirt, ask for a mock-up before you commit. Seeing your colours on the garment is very different from imagining them.
Step 2: Get your club crest right
The badge is the heart of the kit. If you already have a club crest, supply it as the highest-quality file you can find — ideally a vector file (AI, EPS or PDF) rather than a small image pulled from social media, which will look blurry once it's enlarged onto a shirt.
If you don't have a usable logo, it's worth sorting this out before you order a kit, because the same crest will end up on training wear, tracksuits and leisurewear too. A simple, bold design that works in one or two colours will always reproduce more cleanly than something highly detailed.
You'll also choose how the crest is applied. Embroidery gives a premium, raised, hard-wearing finish that suits the badge and is the traditional choice for club crests — our custom embroidery service covers exactly this. Printing is better for large, full-colour artwork and is usually more economical across a big order. Many clubs combine the two: an embroidered crest with printed numbers and sponsors.
Step 3: Plan your sponsors and branding
Sponsorship often pays for the kit, so plan where logos go before you finalise the design. The main sponsor traditionally sits across the chest, with secondary sponsors on the sleeves, back or shorts. Decide early how many sponsors you need to fit, because cramming logos in at the last minute makes a kit look cluttered.
Keep sponsor artwork in the same high-quality format as your crest, and confirm with each sponsor exactly how they want their logo to appear — colours, spacing and any "clear space" rules around it. It's far easier to position everything cleanly at the design stage than to rework a proof later.
Step 4: Sort numbering and player names
Squad numbers and player names turn a set of matching shirts into a proper team kit. A few things to decide:
- Number style and placement. Large numbers on the back are standard; many leagues also require smaller numbers on the front or shorts, so check your competition's rules.
- Names or no names. Player surnames above the number look professional and help with identification, but add a little to the cost — worth it for a settled senior squad, less essential for a rotating junior team.
- Font and colour. Pick a number font and colour that stays legible against your shirt colour from a distance.
Collect your full squad list — names, numbers and sizes — in one go. Chasing details one player at a time is the single biggest cause of delays.
Step 5: Get the sizing right for the whole squad
Nothing undermines a smart kit like shirts that don't fit. Football squads often span a wide range of builds, and junior teams change size from one season to the next, so take sizing seriously.
- Use a size kit or size chart so players can pick accurately rather than guessing.
- Allow for growth in junior teams — a slightly roomier fit lasts longer across a season.
- Order a few spares in common sizes for new signings and trialists, so you're not placing a fresh order every time someone joins.
Because we produce in the UK and keep your design on file, reordering mid-season for new players is quick and stays consistent with the rest of the squad. To see the full range of training wear, tracksuits and club leisurewear that can match your kit, browse our custom teamwear range.
Step 6: Approve your proof carefully
Before anything goes into production you'll get a proof — a visual of your final design. Don't rush this stage. Check the spelling of every player name, the accuracy of the squad numbers, the position of sponsors and the exact shades of your colours. It's the cheapest possible moment to catch a mistake. Once you're happy and you sign it off, your kit goes into production.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to design and receive a custom football kit?
Design itself can be quick once you've supplied your colours, crest and squad details — often just a round or two of proofs. Production time then depends on quantities and decoration method, and we'll always confirm a realistic delivery date before you commit.
What file format should I send my club badge in?
A vector file (AI, EPS or PDF) is best because it scales to any size without losing quality. If you only have a small image, talk to us — we can often advise on getting it redrawn cleanly.
Can we design a kit if we're a brand-new club with no badge?
Yes. Plenty of new teams start from just a name and a colour idea. Sort a simple, bold crest first, since it'll appear across all your kit and leisurewear, and build the design around it.
Should we choose embroidery or print for the crest?
Embroidery gives a premium, durable finish that suits a club badge; print is better for large full-colour artwork and big orders. Many clubs use embroidery for the crest and print for numbers and sponsors.
Ready to design your kit?
Once you've worked through your colours, crest, sponsors, numbering and sizing, you're ready to bring it to life. Explore our custom football team kits to start your design, or browse the wider teamwear range for training wear, tracksuits and club leisurewear to match. Tell us what you've got and we'll mock it up for your approval before a single shirt is printed.
