‘Shirt of the season’ – Hundreds of Sunderland fans queue up at 6am to buy stunning new home kit with special history

SUNDERLAND might just have won the prize for the nicest kit of the new Premier League season. The Black Cats launched their new sponsorless home strip on Wednesday, paying homage to their 1937 FA Cup-winning side. Granit Xhaka models the stunning new Sunderland kit Credit: Instagram @sunderlandafc The kit features a retro collar, paying homage to the 1937 FA Cup-winning team Credit: Instagram @sunderlandafc Fresh from unveiling an Elvis-inspired pink away kit last month, Regis Le Bris’ side have pulled it out of the bag again with a kit for the ages. Videos shared on X – formerly known as Twitter – showed hundreds of fans queuing outside the Stadium of Light at 6am this morning ready to get their hands on the new shirt. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The new shirt features a button-up collar and a retro-style crest, all kitted out in the famous red and white stripes. The back of the neck features two nods to the 1937 team – with the inner back of the neck showing the starting XI from that famous day down Wembley Way The outer back, meanwhile, shows the original crest that adorned the shirt almost 100 years ago. Sunderland beat Preston North End in front of 93,000 fans that day, with goals from Bobby Gurney, Raich Carter and Eddie Burbanks sending the FA Cup trophy to Wearside for the first time. As Granit Xhaka and Co prepare to embark on their first season of European football in 53 years, fans couldn’t help falling in love with the new threads, with some labelling it the ‘shirt of the season’. One fan wrote: “This kit is sensational! Just need the stars to align and win the FA Cup this season.” A second added: “Possibly the best top tier shirt in all of European football this season.” Most read in Sport The Black Cats will embark on their first European campaign in 53 years this season Credit: Instagram @sunderlandafc Sunderland players celebrate winning the FA Cup back in 1937 Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd The new home strip follows the Elvis-inspired away kit Credit: Sunderland AFC Nordi Mukiele models the new shirt that saw hundreds of fans queuing in the early morning to buy it Credit: Instagram @sunderlandafc A third, meanwhile, joked: “It’s ok lads, I didn’t like having any money anyway.” The Black Cats are currently in the US on a pre-season tour, with Enzo Le Fee scoring a rocket in a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday. Their Premier League campaign kicks off away to Ipswich on Saturday 22 August. Comment now