Follwing on from our home and away kits article, we finally get to our third kits, or alternate kits article, where clubs have the opportunity to thoroughly go wild with their designs, often leading to huge hits or major misses, so let’s see which clubs in each EFL division have magnificently hit with their third kit for the upcoming campaign.
With most clubs now having released their kits ahead of the 2025/26 season, ur favourites will be mentioned further down this article so please, keep reading!
Bristol City
Surprise playoff finishers in the previous season Bristol City, have released the smartest third strip in the Championship this season in my opinion. The pitch black background coupled with the vivid marble, aurora like pattern which utilises neon turquoise and pink is to me the perfect juxtaposition of colour for this third shirt.
A bold design which has the perfect balance of not over-doing it or in opposition being too bland and safe, a tidy modern classic from the Robins, who will be looking to build on last season’s promising signs in this number. Furthermore, white as the tertiary colour for the club crest, sponsor and supplier logos superbly bonds amongst the shirt’s base, spectacular.
Burton Albion
For League One, I was very torn. The third tier has definitely not disappointed with its kit options this season across home, away and third with as previously mentioned Port Vale and Wimbledon taking the standard to the next level. However with their respective third kits, Northampton’s oceanic teal, grey and fluorescent green number as well as Leyton Orient’s galactic, cosmic like shirt are extremely close runners up and highly honourable mentions in their own right.
But, Burton Albion take the crown with their stunning white and gold third kit. There’s nothing I love more than the utilisation of gold on a football shirt perfected, and the Brewers have done just that here. Albion have emphasised the use of clean lines and quality in the detail via their Instagram release of the strip, connoting their proud roots whilst looking ahead to a bright future and I believe that this kit is a massive step in the right direction alongside their rebranded crest, a breath of fresh air in this generation of over-simplified badges.
Cambridge United
Back to kits more importantly, and specifically the third kits in League Two. Cambridge United have nailed it, as previously mentioned, I’m a sucker for gold done well on a kit, and here is another brilliant example, this time partnered with black, a far more common combination. Overall a very slick and effective design by the Us in which the gold accent is so classy and crisp.
The background to the design of the kit is also fantastic, a touch to the discovery of DNA in the city of Cambridge through the DNA double helix pattern embossed within the kit’s black base as well as the phrase ‘the secret of life’ on the rear neck taping.
But what are your favourites? Do you agree or disagree with our choices? Let us know in the comments or on X @LowerTiers
