Coinciding with the release of the third season of cult comedy show Ted Lasso, Nike have taken the reigns of fictional football side AFC Richmond, the focus of the TV Series, and have released a clothing capsule that features the club’s new home shirt.
For a certain generation, mention a footy-based TV show and the only thing to come to mind would be Dream Team. But now there’s a new pretender in town; with two seasons already out and a third set to drop, Ted Lasso, the Apple exclusive series, has received widespread critical acclaim. For those not up to speed, the show focuses on the titular American football coach who is unexpectedly recruited to coach a fictional English Premier League team, AFC Richmond, despite having no experience coaching soccer. The team's owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Lasso hoping he will fail as a means of exacting revenge on the team's previous owner, her unfaithful ex-husband. Cue hijinks and an up and down rollercoaster ride in which Ted's charm, personality, and humour begin to win over Rebecca, the team, and those who had been skeptical about his appointment.
Now, as we prepare for the drop of season three, set to arrive on screens on 15 March, AFC Richmond have announced that they have a new kit supplier, with Nike stepping in to take over from Verani Sports. And the new partnership is kicked off with the launch of the club’s new home shirt, which is supported by a hoodie, crew neck sweat shirt and tee.
The home shirt sees a split design of red and blue, with the appropriate “Bantr” sponsor taking up position below the traditional placement of the club crest on the left chest and the Swoosh branding on the right. Both hoodie and sweat shirt take on different shades of blue, with club crest and branding again in the usual placements. The tee then takes on an all-over orange colouring, complete with branding and sponsor, replicating the look of the club’s away shirt, as revealed on FIFA 23.
And that’s happened because this release follows AFC Richmond being available as a playable team in the latest instalment of FIFA, meaning Lasso, Coach Beard, and the biggest stars of the AFC Richmond squad, including Jamie Tartt, Dani Rojas, Sam Obisanya, Roy Kent, and Isaac McAdoo have been authentically integrated into the game, along with Nelson Road – the club’s home ground.
While the home kit is the same as the one revealed in FIFA 23, there’s been no sign of the club’s away or third third shirts being made available for purchase just yet. Maybe ones to come.
Shop the Nike x AFC Richmond collection at prodirectsport.com/soccer
