For a new football club, the first kit is more than clothing. It is the club’s identity on the pitch, in photos and on social media, and players often keep it for years. Getting it right first time saves money and avoids awkward reorders mid-season. Here is a practical, step-by-step way to plan and order your first custom football kits.
1. Decide what the club actually needs
Start with a simple list. Most new clubs need a home kit (shirt, shorts, socks), a goalkeeper kit for each keeper in a contrasting colour, and training wear, usually training tops and bibs. An away kit in a second colour is useful if your home colours clash with local rivals. Many clubs add tracksuit jackets or hoodies for travel and the bench once the season is running.
If you run youth teams, list every age group. Ordering all age groups in one design is simpler, looks better and makes reorders easy.
2. Fix your crest and colours first
Everything else follows from the crest. Have it as clean artwork, ideally a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF), or at least a high-resolution PNG. Choose two or three club colours and write down the exact shades if you can. A good kit usually has one dominant colour, one secondary colour and one trim colour for collars, cuffs and numbers.
3. Pick a design that will read well on the pitch
Classic stripes and hoops, half-and-half, sashes and chevrons all work well with sublimation, which prints the design into the fabric so it never cracks or peels. Keep numbers large and in a colour that contrasts strongly with the shirt, and check that the goalkeeper kit is clearly different from both teams’ outfield colours. Our guide to sublimation, printing and embroidery explains which decoration suits each item.
4. Plan sponsors, names and numbers
Decide early where sponsor logos go: the front of the shirt, the back below the number, the sleeve or the shorts. Collect sponsor logos as high-quality files. Then build a roster listing each player’s name as it should appear, their number and their size. Senior teams usually have names; youth teams often have numbers only.
5. Collect sizes properly
Sizing is where most first orders go wrong. Use one size chart for everyone, either US or European, and ask players or parents to measure an existing shirt they like rather than guessing. For youth teams, size up slightly so the kit lasts the season. We make youth XS up to adult 5XL and can also work to your own measurements. See our team uniform size guide for a simple method.
6. Approve a mock-up, then check a real sample
Before anything is produced, you should see a digital mock-up of every item with your crest, colours, sponsors and a sample name and number. Once the mock-up is approved, ask for a physical sample. At Stitch Next the sample of your own design is free; you only cover the shipping. Check the colours in daylight, the fit on a real player and how the numbers read from a distance.
7. Place the bulk order with a clear list
Send one final list: every item, every size, every name and number. Double-check spellings. Confirm the delivery address and who will receive the parcel. Keep a copy of the approved design so reorders for new players next season match exactly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a goalkeeper colour that clashes with your own or the league’s usual kits.
- Low-resolution crest or sponsor files that print blurry.
- Mixing US and European size charts in one order.
- Forgetting spare shirts and numbers for players who join mid-season.
Ready to start?
Stitch Next makes custom football kits to order in Sialkot, Pakistan, and ships worldwide to clubs, academies, schools and teamwear resellers. Send us your crest, colours and product list and we will prepare a mock-up. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp.