Season 1980/81
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


The Season in brief

United struggled to maintain a top six place for most of the season. Garry Birtles, a new club record signing for £1.25 million, failed to score in twenty five League appearances. The club drew eighteen of their League games, a new club record, and although they ended with seven consecutive wins Sexton was dismissed less than a week after the end of the season.

United were beaten at Coventry in the League Cup, at Forest in the FA Cup, and in the first round of the UEFA Cup by Widzew Lodz on the away goals rule.

The collapse of Admiral forced United to hurriedly negiotiate a new kit supply contract with adidas, although they continued to wear Admiral socks until early September. At the Dell in March 1981, United wore the blue Umbro third shirt from 1974/75.

The shirts featured two distinct style of numbers. The original outline number was worn on the home shirts until early November 1980 when it was replaced with a more traditional solid number, although we believe it was retained on the change shirts throughout the season. A solid black number was used on the change kit on just one occasion, for the FA Cup tie at Nott'm. Forest.

The adidas replica shirts had printed club crests and manufacturers logos. The change shirt featured the same crest as the home shirt, unlike the players versions which had crests in different colours. Modern reproduction versions are mostly made in the far-east and usually have over-sized embroidered crests and logos.

Can you help identify the kits worn by United in the following games: Leicester (a) 7/2/1981; and Nott'm Forest (h) 18/3/1981.