Season 1937/38
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season
Home Kit
'Tangeru' Variant
Change Kit
Move you cursor over the kits to reveal the black/gray variant
Variant FA Cup Kit
Home Kit
Change Kit
The Season in brief
United's early season form was inconsistent and on November 9th, the Board reluctantly accepted the resignation of Duncan, who had been offered the manager's position at Southern League Ipswich Town. Walter Crickmer, assisted by Jimmy Porter from December, again took charge. The side gradually climbed the table, securing the runners up spot on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win against Bury.
As part of the Gibson's modernisation reforms the Board had agreed, in June 1937, to a more thorough approach to training, coaching and match preparation. In February, the idea of funding a junior club was first discussed.
From press photographs, we know United wore the Umbro manufactured 'Tangeru' shirt, which is easily identified by a large reinforced patch at the base of the placket. Tony Sealey, an expert in Tottenham Hotspur kits, has confirmed the shirt was originally designed for the 1933 FA Cup Final. United also continued to wear their previous style shirts.
Charbel Boujaoude sent a match report from the reserve game against Burnley in December 1937 which describes United's shirts as black and gray hoops, probably the result of numerous boil washes! A match report sent by Iain McCartney includes a reference to United's 'zebra-like' kit in the game at Bramall Lane on February 17th 1938. Alex Howells has discovered that United wore blue shirts with white shorts in the FA Cup ties at Barnsley and at Brentford. Under the rules of the competition, both teams had to change in the event of a colour clash.
United's goalkeepers continued to waer a heavy woolen green jersey. Although we have been unable to discover any evidence from this season of United's goalkeeper change shirt, we believe it was probably royal blue.