Welcome to Kitlocker.com’s Kits of the Year 2021
It’s been another pretty weird year but one thing that hasn’t changed is your love of football kits.
We reckon that 2021 has been our best year so far for beautiful kits. And thanks to you guys for helping us to push the boundaries of kit design.
It was tough, but we’ve picked out 10 of our favourite kits from this year. One from each KOTM (we only started doing it in March).
Feast your eyes 👇
South Cestos FC
South Cestos FC are an Essex-based grassroots club, plying their trade in the Mid-Essex Football League.
Their kit is the adidas Striped 19 shirt but it’s much, much more than that. Not only is it a cracking kit, it also shows support to Black Lives Matter with a BLM printed logo sat alongside their own club badge. The Cozy Energy print is also a great example of a sponsor logo fitting into a shirt perfectly.
This kit was featured in the March edition of KOTM.
Edwinstowe Cricket Club
Edwinstowe is a village located in Sherwood Forest. So naturally we stuck a #PowerUp print of the man himself, Robin Hood, on the front of this adidas Entrada 18 shirt. The club’s crest also features the image of Nottinghamshire’s most famous son.
Fun Fact: Robin Hood is said to have married his wife, Maid Marion, in the village of Edwinstowe. Cute ♥
This kit was featured in the April edition of KOTM.
AFC Audenshaw
This stunning Nike Park shirt from Manchester based AFC Audenshaw is really brought to life by an eye-catching sponsor, built in to a stylish #PowerUp design.
That Rockstar Arcade print almost literally explodes from the centre of the shirt. While that central beam perfectly matches up to the colourway of the club’s magnificent crest. 10/10 on all counts for this one 😍
This kit was featured in the May edition of KOTM.
Cuckney Cricket Club
In addition to #PowerUp, adidas miTeam is yet another way to create a truly unique bespoke kit for your team. And that’s precisely what Notts based Cuckney Cricket Club have done for their new kit.
The miTeam service really lets you run wild with your imagination and build your kit from scratch. You can choose from an almost infinite number of colour combinations.
Cuckney CC have gone for bright and vibrant blue and orange tones to create possibly the best cricket shirt we saw this year.
This kit was featured in the June edition of KOTM.
Grenfell Athletic
We’ve spoken so much about this fantastic club this year. But if you’re unfamiliar with them, check out our podcast with founders Rupert Taylor and Andy Fowler.
Back in the summer, they launched their new kit, the proceeds of which are pumped back into the club and community, with a kit amnesty.
And what a kit it is. Just look at the dragon wrapped around the Nike swoosh. That little touch got A LOT of people talking. Plus, you’re unlikely to see a better designed crest anywhere in grassroots football.
This kit was featured in the July edition of KOTM.
Newcastle Blue Star
We called it back in the summer. That this kit was one of our favourites of the year. And here it is.
Firstly the combination of black and white stripes and that Blue Star print brings back memories of Newcastle United’s glory years (in terms of kits anyway). And as if that’s not enough, the shirt has prints raising awareness for great causes. With NHS on the sleeve and Bobby Robson Foundation on the back.
An all-round first class shirt. And you can buy it here.
This kit was featured in the August edition of KOTM.
Horsell FC
Lovely bit of Joma here from Horsell FC. And they are bringing strong Feyenoord vibes. You can just imagine prime Dirk Kuyt rocking this one.
Also, extra points for the sponsor print pun. You don’t see many ironing services sponsoring football shirts but we’re here for it.
This kit was featured in the September edition of KOTM.
LIFE United
The boys down at LIFE United are more than just a football team. They’ve also got goals off the pitch.
Their mission is to highlight the issues surrounding men’s mental health. They want to create a space where men feel comfortable enough to talk.
A fine cause needs a mighty fine kit to go with it. Or maybe even two. Check out these impressive #PowerUp designs courtesy of LIFE United 🔥
This kit was featured in the October edition of KOTM.
Vicky Park Queens
Vicky Park Queens were formed after lockdown restrictions were lifted in April. Then in November, they released their first kit with a percentage of profits reinvested in growing the women’s football space in Leicester 
From 9 women attending the first session in April, the club now has 40 women who play during the twice weekly sessions with new faces joining the Queens every week. Open to women and non binary people over the age of 18, players come from as far as Birmingham to join the sessions.
Like the shirt? Of course you do. Look at it 
Click here to grab one for yourself.
This kit was featured in the November edition of KOTM.
Kirkcaldy Eagles FC
We’re heading north of the border for our final kit of the year. Kirkcaldy Eagles used the already eye-catching Puma Final Graphic shirt and taken it to the next level.
They’ve chosen to add a brilliant lightning #PowerUp print which really brings the kit to life. Plus, that sponsor print isn’t too shabby either…
This kit was featured in the December edition of KOTM.
Here’s to another year of beautiful kits 🍾
Well there you have it. What better way to bring 2021 to a close than with a lovely set of kits.
We’ve got so many exciting things planned for 2022. So we reckon this time next year, Kits of the Year will be even bigger and better!
Have a great new year everyone! 🎇