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TOP FIVE: Favourite Sunderland Away Kits!

"Football kits are for bairns," I hear you say. Maybe so. But you can’t deny that some of them have genuinely been top notch over the years, as well as evoking some great memories. From the weird-yet-alluring pink offering this year, to the '98 Play Off Final gold - and all in between - everyone has a favourite. From five to one, here are my picks.

Palace v Sunderland

5. Gold & Navy Play Off Final Aasics shirt - 1997/1998

Worn by: Kevin Phillips, Niall Quinn, Alex Rae

The gold away shirt was as memorable as it was weird. Although it evokes memories of the heart-breaking Play Off Final loss to Charlton in 1998, it was also the kit that we wore during some of our finest away performances of the modern era.

Worn in a 0-3 win at table topping Nottingham Forest and in our 1-5 rout of Rotherham United in the FA Cup, it was also the kit Superkev wore when he scored his 35th goal of the season - at Wembley Stadium.

More popular now than perhaps it was then, the gold away kit sneaks in at number five.

Danny Mills of Charlton Athletic and Michael Gray of Sunderland

4. Yellow & Navy League Cup Semi-Final Adidas shirt - 2013/2014

Worn by: Phil Bardsley, Lee Cattermole, Fabio Borini

Dangerous to look at directly, this illuminous Adidas offering was certainly a slow burner when it came to its popularity with the supporters.

Originally seen as a little bit of a monstrosity, it became somewhat of a cult number after hammering the Mags 0-3 in their own back yard and then beating Manchester United in the cup Semi-Final at Old Trafford whilst wearing it.

Newcastle United v Sunderland - Premier League Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

3. Royal Blue Gary Rowell Hattrick shirt - 1978/1979

Worn by: Gary Rowell, Shaun Elliott, Joe Bolton

Many fans will class this as the number one away kit of all time but it has to settle for number three in this list.

It’s easy to see why it’s regarded as such a smart kit though - not only is the retro, re-made version of it still sold and worn today, but it evokes memories of local lad Gary Rowell smashing in a famous hat trick at St. James back in 1979 against Newcastle - a happening which is sure to make any kit seem iconic.


2. White & Red Farewell to Roker Park Avec shirt - 1996/1997

Worn by: Richard Ord, Craig Russell, Paul Bracewell

White away kit always seem to go down well at Sunderland - in this case, it literally went down with us as we were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the 1996/1997 season.

Much like the Rowell kit mentioned above, it had no airs or graces - it was just a striking white effort with a neat red V-neck. Paying homage to Roker Park on the badge didn’t ruin it either, but more added to its effect.

Richard Ord

1. White and Navy FA Cup Final Hummel shirt - 1991/1994

Worn by: Kevin Ball, Gordon Armstrong, John Byrne

Unbeatable - it's the greatest strip that we have ever had. Hummel made us some cracking kits, but this was the pick of the bunch.

It was the 90’s down to a tee, but the weird pattern on the sleeves didn’t deter from its smart design, with the Vaux Breweries logo standing out boldly in block lettering on the front and the old boat badge on the chest. Although it was mostly remembered as being the kit we wore when we lost in the 1992 FA Cup Final, a wee search on eBay shows how much Sunderland fans still love this kit with prices going up into the hundreds if you wish to secure one.

Anton Rogan and Gary Bennett of Sunderland and Ray Houghton of Liverpool

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