BEFORE 1978, THE Irish football team wore fairly bland kits – consisting of the green jersey with a shamrock crest, white shorts and either plain or striped socks.
The Boys in Green, one of two national sides in Europe to play in the colour as their first choice along with Northern Ireland, have since had three sponsors (Opel, Eircom and the current one 3 Mobile) while Athleta, O’Neill’s, Adidas and Umbro have all manufactured the team’s clothing down the years.
Below, we look back at how the home, away and goalkeeper strips have evolved over the past 30 years.
1980 - Home
1982 - Home
1984 - Goalkeeper
1985 - Home
1987 - Home
1988 - Home
1990 - Home
1990 - Away
1990 - Goalkeeper
1990 - Goalkeeper
1992 - Home
1993 - Away
1993 - Goalkeeper
1994 - Home
1994 - Away
1994 - Goalkeeper
1995 - Home
1995 - Goalkeeper
1996 - Home
1996 - Away
1996 - Goalkeeper
1996 - Goalkeeper
1997 - "I had a Macedonia"
1998 - Home
1998 - Away
1998 - Goalkeeper
2000 - Home
2000 - Away
2002 - Home
2002 - Away
2002 - Goalkeeper
2002 - Goalkeeper
2003 - Home
2003 - Away
2003 - Goalkeeper
2004 - Home
2004 - Goalkeeper
2005- Away
2005 - Goalkeeper
2006 - Home
2006 - Goalkeeper
2007 - Away
2008 - Home
2008 - Away
2008 - Goalkeeper
2009 - Away
2010 - Home
2010 - Away
2010 - Goalkeeper
2010 - Charity
2011 - Home
2011 - Away
2011 - Third strip
2011 - Goalkeeper
2011 - Goalkeeper
2012 - Home
2012 - Away
2012 - Goalkeeper
I love how in picture 22, were you state about Shay Given making the number 1 shirt his own he’s wearing number 16
Come on you Boys in Green!
Give us something to be proud of!
Brought back the memories-
The 1988 jersey was my favourite.
Picture 29 should be last gasp equaliser (not winner) against Germany
It’s been changed now. Cheers!
No bother good article keep up the good work
Bring back Adidas
The O’Neills jerseys were class. i have one proudly signed by the legend that is Davy Langan!
There was a jersey worn just once, for a home game against Norway in 1985, that was green with a gold stripe across it like the Kerry Gaelic football jersey – anyone else remember that?
I don’t remember it as I was only 8 at the time, but I’ve read about it here: http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/international/republic-ireland/republic-ireland-1978-1994.html
1996 home kit was the worst. Adidas did some great kits for us, Umbro have lost the plot.
Oh Christ… I used to have that purple keepers jersey!!!
The 93-94 kit was the best!
The ’87 home kit is the dog’s. I want!
toffs.com is a great site for them.
Cool. Cheers dude.
I won a spot the ball in 1990 40 pounds. I was only 12, i used the money to buy the whole kit. Wouldn’t get the jersey for that now.
Sure you would with inflation taken into account. Otherwise its apples and oranges.
Good to Roy Keane in his classic Umbrage kit.
The Boys in Green, the only national side in Europe to play in the colour as their first choice
Ahem, Northern Ireland anyone?
No thanks
Pic 3 is actually Seamus McDonagh, not ‘Mick McDonach’! The fact that teams change kits so often now has made these kits a lot less iconic than they used to be once upon a time, given that they wear them for such a short period. Most people resent the fact that they have to shell out big money each year for bland enough or generic kits.
The 2002 home with world cup 2002 written under the crest.. ahhh the memories
1990 home was our best ever kit. Also liked the USA 94 home jersey. The best one since 1990 was the 2010 home. Plain, simple and looked great. The home shirt we had for the Euros in Poland was probably the worst we’ve ever had. Looked manky. New one isn’t bad, but as someone else mentioned, they get changed so often now, they lose their potential for being a classic…. Need to get back to Adidas
Umbro make horrible jerseys, we haven’t had a nice kit since the Adidas days. 1988 is definitely the best
Have to say the 82 O’Neill’s home is the best of the green ones. I find all the Umbro ones rotten ugly rags so much so I won’t buy them. I proudly wear my O’Neill’s replica one during all matches.
Most of the home umbro kits are pretty gash, shame the they’re singed up to provide the kits till 2016 I think, must be getting them cheap to pay Trap and Delany. A return to Adidas Wouk be nice, I’ve always liked their kits.
Signed
It’s official then. We have consistently had the worst kits in Europe.
Peter I would only agree with you since the FAI sold there soles to Umbro.
The second photo is from match in 1984 (12.09.1984), not 1982
http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=8158