By 
Alright folks, let’s dive into today’s project – digging into Manchester City’s past home jerseys to figure out which ones truly hit the spot with fans over the years. Gotta see what makes a kit stick in people’s memories, you know?
Step 1: Starting with the Brain Dump
First things first, I needed a raw list. Grabbed my notebook – yeah, the messy one – and just started scribbling down every home kit I could remember City wearing since I started following them. My memory’s alright, but kits from the 80s and 90s? Fuzzy. Realised I couldn’t rely purely on nostalgia goggles here. Headed straight to some big Man City fan forums – proper treasure troves there. Spent a good hour just scrolling, reading threads where old-timers argued about the best shirts. Made notes of kit years people kept bringing up, especially the ones getting lots of “YES!” replies.
Step 2: Hitting the Books (Well, the Web)
Okay, had my candidate years from the forums: early 70s, 1999, 2003, 2011-12, 2018-19. But I needed visuals. Searched “Manchester City kit history home” – boom, a couple of really detailed sites popped up showing every home design season by season. Some fan-run, others more official histories. Crucial! Started matching the years I noted with the actual pictures. Couldn’t believe how different some early ones looked! Clicked through each year meticulously, saving images of the kits from the years high on the fan list. Had to double-check sponsor changes too – sometimes makes a big difference.
Step 3: Asking the Hive Mind (Social Deep Dive)
List and pics weren’t enough. Wanted real-time buzz. Jumped onto Twitter and Instagram. Searched hashtags like #mcfc, #manchestercity, plus variations on “favourite kit” and “classic kit“. Sorted by “Recent” and “Top”. People were posting pics of themselves wearing old shirts! Amazing. Also scoured those “Which City home kit is your favourite?” polls folks run on Twitter almost weekly. The patterns started showing:
- The 1969 FA Cup final kit (maroon with white cross! wild!) kept getting revered mentions from older fans.
- The late 90s Umbro ones – especially 1998-99 with the three stripes – were massively nostalgic for many who grew up then.
- The Brother era (early-mid 90s) had real cult love, but the designs… well, 90s were interesting!
- 2011-12 (title winning year) popped up constantly. Sky blue sash, Etihad. That Aguero moment glued to it.
- 2018-19 (Centurion season with the subtle marbled effect) was a recent powerhouse favourite.
Saw tons of love for simple designs: bold sky blue, minimal fuss, white shorts, maybe a cool collar or a subtle pattern. People really disliked overly busy templates.
Step 4: Making the Call (Putting it Together)
Sat back with all the bits: my notebook scribbles, the forum gems, the visuals, the social media shouts. The common threads were undeniable. Based on sheer volume of mentions, reverence, and iconic moments linked to them, the clear frontrunners emerged:
- 1989-91 (Umbro): That darker blue, simple badge. Cult classic.
- 1998-99 (Umbro): Classic three-stripe shoulders, collar. Playoff final kit!
- 2011-12 (Umbro): Sky blue sash. Aguero. Enough said.
- 2018-19 (Nike): Centurions, clean marbled effect. Modern fan favourite.
Wrap Up
Doing this confirmed something obvious but important – the best kits aren’t just about the looks. It’s the moments they carry and the pure, clean identity of City: sky blue and proud. Simplicity resonates way louder than flashy nonsense. Loved digging through this history – felt like chatting over a pint with decades of Blues fans! Right then, off to check eBay prices for that ’99 shirt now…