Season 1895/96
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


Home Kit
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unitedkits_number_0146
Change Kit
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Possible Variant Kit
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The Season in brief

Hopes of an early return to Division One were severely dented in October when Liverpool exposed the sides defensive frailties by scoring seven against them at Anfield. The 'Heathens' never really recovered and finally finished sixth.

In response to the growing interest in football generally, and in Manchester in particular, the committee continued developing Bank Street. A 2,000 capacity stand was erected on the 'reserved' side, bought from Broughton R.F.C. in October 1895. The stand was 'opened' for the visit of Manchester City.

The embankments on the popular side and on the Clayton End were enlarged for the second round F.A. Cup tie against Derby County in February. The Board claimed, optimistically, there was capacity for 30,000. The game, a 1-1 draw, actually attracted 20,000 - easily the highest of the season.

After the humiliating 5-2 home defeat by Fallowfield in the third round of the Manchester Cup, the club suspended both goalkeeper Douglas and the first team trainer, Paley.

Newton Heath's registered colours are given as green & gold in the Association of Football Statistics annual covering the 1895/96 season, and this information was confirmed by contributor Pete Wyatt.

A colour poster, presented in the 'Hunters Weekly' on January 7th 1896, shows the 'Heathens' home kit as a blue and brown striped shirt. This suggests that they may have changed at some stage during the autumn, perhaps even at the start of the season. However, David Moor of Historical Football Kits has doubts over the accuracy of the poster, and until additional contemporary evidence is found, we cannot be certain the Newton Heath kit is correct.

The poster can be seen on the National Football Collection website.