Warrington Town's 2027/28 away kit will be designed by a primary pupil. Over 30 schools are in; entries close 27 November and every entrant gets a ticket.

Warrington Town’s away shirt for the 2027/28 season will be designed by a primary school child from the town. More than 30 primary schools have already signed up to the club’s kit design competition, and children have until Friday 27 November to send in their designs.

The winning design will be the club’s official away kit for two seasons, 2027/28 and 2028/29, and will go on sale online and in the Club Shop when it launches next summer, the club said.

Every child who enters gets a ticket

Each school that opted in has received a competition pack: a blank shirt and shorts template to colour in, and a sheet of facts about the club. Every child who enters wins a ticket for themselves and an adult to a home fixture in the New Year, which the club will specify, so that they can see live football in their own town.

The winner gets more:

  • the first shirt produced in their size, to keep
  • a framed shirt to hang in their school
  • two season tickets for 2027/28
  • a small gift for everyone in their class

The only rule: not yellow, not black

The home kit will always be yellow, so the away shirt is where the club allows some artistic licence. The one restriction is that designs cannot be mainly yellow or black, the second to avoid a clash with the match officials. The template also asks children to “leave a small space for the club logo”, and adds: “Other than that, you can be as creative as you would like!”

Recent away shirts have set a high bar. The club used a throwback claret and blue quartered shirt to mark 75 years since its foundation, and the current navy away shirt, with golden gates patterned on the sleeves, has been the best-selling away shirt in the club’s history, according to Warrington Town, with praise from several football culture outlets and social media accounts.

Why the club did it

James Gordon, the club’s Commercial and Media Director, said the idea came from school visits:

“I went in to a couple of schools at the end of the last school year after being asked to go in to talk about the club and its history in the local area. So that got me thinking about ways we could engage a bit further, and that’s where the kit design competition came up.

“We have a great relationship with our teamwear partners Capelli, and they have assured me that they can produce whatever the kids come up with!

“We reached out to all of the local primary schools and have been delighted by the response. All schools received a pack that included some facts about the club that will hopefully help them to introduce children and tell them a bit more about us.”

It has already brought at least one new family through the gate. “Already at Saturday’s game I was made aware of a parent and child who after receiving the pack from their school, had come along to see a live match and experience Warrington Town in person to help provide some inspiration and get their design juices flowing!” he said.

What the children are learning about the club

The facts sheet in the pack gives pupils a short history of the Yellows. According to the club, it was founded in 1949 as Stockton Heath Albion and became Warrington Town in 1961. Its nickname comes from the yellow home shirts, though in its early days it played in amber and black. The sheet names Roger Hunt, who won the World Cup with England in 1966, as its most famous player; his family gave a portrait of him to Warrington & Vale Royal College this month.

The sheet also lists the 1987 FA Vase final at Wembley, a 1-0 FA Cup win over Exeter City in 2014 shown live on BBC TV, and the 2023 play-off final that won promotion to the National League North in front of a record crowd of 2,550. The current manager is Paul Carden, a former professional who played for Chester, Peterborough, Cambridge United and Rochdale. The club says it has scored more than 7,000 goals in more than 3,600 games, almost two a game.

Who picks the winner

After the 27 November deadline, a panel including the club chairman, the manager and Capelli will draw up a shortlist and then choose the winning design. The club says it will share news of the entries in the New Year.

What it means for you

  • If your child’s school has the pack: designs go in through the school by 27 November. Entering is enough to win a ticket for the child and an adult to a home game in the New Year.
  • If your school is not involved yet: a teacher can ask for an information pack by emailing james@warringtontownfc.co.uk.
  • Looking for inspiration: Warrington Town play at the GXO Stadium on Common Lane, WA4 2RS. Fixtures and tickets are on the club’s website, and the Club Shop is at 665 Knutsford Road, Latchford. For getting there by car, see our guide to parking in Warrington.