Forget a shabby announcement on the club’s website or a few pictures in the local rag, that’s not how Leeds United’s new home kit launch has been handled. Ahead of it going on official release July 11, a select number of Leeds fans clutching 400 Wonka-style ‘golden tickets’ were invited to a sneak preview at Eland Road. They were in the company of Massimo Cellino and executives from Kappa UK..as well as a bespoke Mini Cooper in a kit launch livery and with Leeds United insignia.
Then it arrived.
The @LUFC 15/16 Home Kit #KappaUK #LUFC pic.twitter.com/lZW0CIiyug
— Kappa UK & Ireland (@Kappa_UK) July 9, 2015
The new Kappa-styled Leeds United home kit is an example of simplicity personified. Largely the traditional white, with limited blue cuffing and LUFC monogram on the socks, it is the perfect example of the link put forward in the club’s strategy in selling season tickets; the linking of a past era of legends to a future of new heroes personified by the four players modelling the kit – the ‘Academy Quartet’ of Taylor, Mowatt, Cook and Byram (below).
NEW KIT | We are proud to present the new #lufc home kit for 2015/16, made by @Kappa_UK pic.twitter.com/16OM8taVYH
— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 9, 2015
The absence of a main shirt sponsor only goes to solidify this link to the past, a past when commercialisation was largely absent from football.
Reaction on Twitter
It seems that support for the kit is high amongst Leeds fans…
https://twitter.com/hollicklufc_/status/619216887268921346
https://twitter.com/lukehirst/status/619218314326355968
Best #LUFC kit for a long time!!! love it!!!
— Shane Small (@ShaneySmall) July 9, 2015
I thought last seasons @LUFC kit was good but this years is even better!
— Jack Ferguson (@jack_fergie) July 9, 2015
Even Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals seem to like it…
https://twitter.com/Perky1106/status/619217690025140224
And even Leeds fans can’t hide their waggish humour…
Rosler likes the kit coz it can't hide anything if the players are unfit #LUFC
— White Knight LUFC (@WhiteKnightLUFC) July 9, 2015
.@Kappa_UK Will there be a non slim fit version of the kit for the more rotund fan, asking for erm a friend #LUFC
— ⒹⒿ (@LeedsCARAJO) July 9, 2015
All in all, it seems that the kit launch for the Kappa-inspired Leeds United 2015/16 home kit is a success.
featured image – KappaUK Twitter feed