Getting a new grassroots football club off the ground is a huge amount of work — registering with your league, finding a pitch, recruiting players and, somewhere in the chaos, working out what everyone is actually going to wear on a Saturday. Kit is one of the jobs that always seems to get left until three weeks before the first fixture, and by then you're paying for rush turnaround and hoping the sizes are right.
This checklist walks you through everything a brand-new UK club needs to kit out its squad properly for a first season, in roughly the order you should tackle it. Work through it early and you'll have matching, professional-looking kit ready well before kick-off — without the last-minute panic.
1. Sort your colours and badge first
Before you order a single shirt, lock down two things: your club colours and your badge. Most leagues ask you to register your home colours so clashes can be managed across the division, so pick a primary strip you're happy to be stuck with for a few seasons.
Your badge doesn't need to cost a fortune. A clean, simple crest that reproduces well at small sizes on a shirt, a training top and a bag is far more useful than something intricate that turns to mush once it's printed. Get it supplied as a vector file if you possibly can — it will save you headaches on every order you place from here on.
2. Match kit: home and (probably) away
The core of any club is its match kit — shirts, shorts and socks. For most grassroots sides a home strip is enough to start, but it's worth thinking about an away or clash strip early, because you'll eventually be drawn against a team whose colours are too close to yours and the referee will make you change. Building the cost of a clash strip into your longer-term plan means it isn't a nasty surprise later.
When you're speccing match kit, budget for:
- Outfield shirts with player names and squad numbers
- Shorts and socks in matching colours
- A few spares — someone always joins in September, and numbers get damaged
Order a full size run and try to get everyone measured properly rather than guessing. Youth clubs in particular should expect to size up between age groups.
3. Don't forget the goalkeeper
Goalkeeper kit is the single most-forgotten item on a new club's first order. Your keeper needs a jersey in a colour that's clearly different from both your outfield kit and the opposition's — the laws of the game require it, and referees do check. Order at least one GK shirt (padded shorts and gloves are a nice-to-have), and if you've got more than one keeper across your squads, kit them all.
4. Training wear and matchday layers
Match day gets the glory, but training is where the season is won — and it's where players spend most of their time in club colours. A set of training tops, along with a warm layer for cold pitches, makes a new club look established from week one. Have a look at our custom training wear and club tracksuits range for the essentials:
- Training t-shirts or jerseys for drills and warm-ups
- A tracksuit or midlayer for subs and cold mornings
- A club hoodie players will happily wear off the pitch, which quietly markets your club around town
You don't have to order all of this at once, but building it into your first-season plan means you can spread the cost and keep the look consistent.
5. Numbering, names and squad lists
Personalisation is what turns a bag of shirts into a proper squad. Decide early whether you're numbering by position, by shirt or letting players pick — then keep a master squad list so mid-season signings can be added without redesigning anything. Keep names sensible and legible; the point is that parents and supporters can pick their player out from the touchline.
6. Sponsors and the FA's advertising rules
A local sponsor can cover a big chunk of your kit bill, and there's usually space on the front, back or sleeve of a shirt. Before you commit, check the rules: for youth football, The FA restricts advertising for certain products (alcohol, gambling and high-fat/salt/sugar brands) on kit worn by under-18s, so a family-friendly sponsor is the safe choice. Get the artwork agreed before your kit order goes to print so you're not paying to redo it.
7. Bags, extras and order timing
Round it off with the practical bits — kit bags, water bottles and a first-aid holdall — and you're ready. The single biggest favour you can do yourself is ordering early. Custom kit is made to order, so lead times stretch as the pre-season rush builds through July and August. Aim to have your design signed off and your squad measured six to eight weeks before your opening fixture, and you'll avoid both the stress and the rush fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to kit out a new grassroots football team?
It varies with quantity, garments and personalisation, but ordering the whole squad together always brings the per-player price down. A local sponsor can offset a large share of the cost. Ask for a quote with your numbers and we'll break it down.
What's the minimum I need for the first season?
Realistically: a home match kit (shirts, shorts, socks), at least one goalkeeper shirt, and a set of training tops. Everything else can follow once you're up and running.
When should I place my kit order?
Six to eight weeks before your first fixture is a comfortable window. Pre-season (July to August) is the busiest period, so the earlier you confirm, the smoother it goes.
Can I add players and reorder mid-season?
Yes. Keep your design on file with your supplier and you can add named, numbered shirts for new signings that match the rest of the squad.
Ready to get your club kitted out?
If you're building a squad from scratch, start with your match strip and work down this list. When you're ready, browse our custom football team kit to see how your colours, badge and squad numbers will look — and get a quote for your whole first-season setup in one go.
