The story of our first shirt

For Saturday's 125 anniversary game we wore a shirt modelled on the one used for our first game back in 1901. But why was it blue and when did we switch to our famous stripes?

Luke Nicoli

2026-09-22T05:00+01:00

📷James Boardman

So what is the story behind the club’s first-ever shirt, worn for the 1901/02 season and replicated on Saturday for our 125th anniversary game against Arsenal, and the transition to the famous stripes?

Background

As is well documented, Brighton & Hove Albion were formed following a meeting at the historic Seven Stars pub in Ship Street, Brighton, on 24 June 1901. The driving force behind the new club was John Jackson, the former manager of Brighton United, who was determined that Brighton and Hove retained a football club in the Southern League.

Colours

Predecessor Brighton United (1898–00) were known as the ‘Greenbacks’, given they had worn a plain green jersey in their first season and green and white stripes in their second and final campaign. The next club in the evolutionary process, Brighton & Hove Rangers (1900–01), donned black and white stripes, whereas Brighton & Hove Albion adopted a plain blue shirt, complete with matching collar, cuffs and a buttoned front.

Was it inspired by the colour of the ocean, or maybe the blue sky? Nobody knows for certain, but confirmation of the colour was noted in the Brighton Gazette on 31 August 1901. “The secretary (Mr Hannan) stated that they would commence the season on September 7, and that they had entered for Division Two of the Southern League. The colours of the club are blue shirts and white knickers.”

The 125 anniversary shirt modelled by Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk.

While the shirt was, indeed, blue, an elderly supporter wrote to the Argus in 1957 remembering the original shade as ‘fisherman’s blue’ – a light blue-grey colour that was commonly used for trawlermen’s jumpers.

Note, there was no badge on the shirt – in fact, it was absent until 1948 when manager Don Welsh introduced the first change since blue-and-white stripes replaced the all-blue shirt in 1904. The new badge was a combination of the arms of the twin towns of Brighton and Hove.

The season

Albion began their inaugural campaign with a 6-2 victory against Brighton Athletic in a preliminary-round FA Cup tie at the club’s new home of the County Ground. The following week, their Southern League campaign kicked off with a 2-0 win at Shepherd’s Bush – the second of eight wins from the side’s opening nine fixtures.

After a 2-1 home win against Grays United on 7 December, Albion sat top of the division and remained there until the end of March. Sadly, three successive defeats at the end of the campaign, against Fulham, Wycombe Wanderers and West Hampstead, left the side in third place – four points behind champions Fulham. The FA Cup campaign ended with a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Clapton in the third qualifying round.

Scottish forward Frank McAvoy, previously of Gravesend United, Brighton United and, most notably, Woolwich Arsenal, was top scorer that season, netting six league goals from 11 games played.

📷James Boardman

The famous stripes

For the 1903/04 season, a royal blue shirt was worn, incorporating a white lace-up, while the blue-and-white stripes were introduced for the 1904/05 season, with the newspaper Football Chat, from 23 August 1904, confirming as such. “On paper we have as good a team signed on as any other club, and at the end of the season I shall be surprised if we don’t run the leaders very close,” wrote ‘Gad’ before adding, “The club colours this year are blue and white stripes.”

Did you know?

All 11 players on the pitch wore the same colours. It was not until 1911 (Southern League) and 1909 (Football League) that goalkeepers wore different colours to their teammates.

Anniversary shirt

More than 125 years since the first ‘fisherman’s blue’ shirt was worn by Albion players, a new commemorative shirt was worn against Arsenal.

Inspired by the colour of 1901 yet crafted with the precision of the modern game, the shirt blends both heritage and innovation while providing a fitting tribute to the many generations of players, supporters and staff who have helped shape Brighton & Hove Albion over the past 125 years.

It is “reimagining the simplicity of the original shirt for a new generation” with elegant shoulder piping, self-fabric cuffs and a classic collar reflecting the style of the club's early years, while the 125th anniversary crest, Nike swoosh and American Express logo are finished in a subtle tonal blue to give the shirt a clean, contemporary look. Inside the collar neck, the words “We Are Brighton” sit alongside the years 1901–2026, further marking this landmark anniversary.

Thanks to Amex, Nike and Experience Kissimmee for allowing the tonal branding on the shirt so it can closely replicate the original shirt