Written by Mike Carter, Hull KR Shirts.
When I created Hull KR Shirts in 2018, the idea of being involved in a kit launch seemed remote, but it was a dream I had regardless. I’ve been a kit enthusiast for longer than I can remember, so what comes next means a big deal to me…
For the first time ever, Hull KR Shirts has been given exclusive access to a new kit, and I’ve been tasked with penning a preview ahead of its launch. I’ve seen it, I’ve touched it, I’ve studied it!
This preview forms part of the official launch of the first of two Hull KR alternate kits for the 2024 Betfred Super League season. So far, you’ve been treated to a teaser from the clubs’ social media account. You knew that was a kit teaser, right?! Now, it is the turn of Hull KR Shirts to take the teaser game up a level!
For many years, the reception of the Roger Millward West Stand was home to a marble tablet that tens of thousands of people will have walked past, but likely not paid attention to. It has since been re-homed, befittingly placed in a more prominent position within the Chairman’s Suite at Sewell Group Craven Park.
HULL◆KINGSTON◆ROVERS◆F◆C◆LTD
The marble tablet was first erected in September 1922 to commemorate the laying out of the original Craven Park and notes the dignitaries in attendance that momentous day. That tablet, a historical artefact that marks Hull KR laying down roots in East Hull, a physical piece of Robins heritage that has survived not only the devastating impact of wartime bombing but also the demolition of our first East Hull home, is a fitting inspiration for a new shirt design. The main design element of the first 2024 alternate shirt is its marble effect front panel.
Hull KR have a fine record of respecting previous kit designs, and the colours used on the 2024 marble alternate kit have been taken from the 1994/95 away kit, though this is by no means a remake of that classic Quantum Sports design.
The ideology of the design, and its connection to the 1922 tablet, is that even though things will change and evolve for the club, the people and the values of Hull KR will always remain the same. This new kit can be considered to be a love letter in polyester form to the people and places that came before us.
OUR FOUNDATIONS WILL NEVER CHANGE
“Our foundations will never change” speaks volumes about this club and its values. The word evolution has been used a lot since 2021 and the launch of the rebrand. The club as a whole is on the up. We can all feel that, but without our strong foundations, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
The kit features two contrasting colours that, when paired together, form an excellent combination. Once again, you can expect impeccable sponsor integration from the clubs partners Connexin, Aspire Academy, AC Enviro, Richardson’s Food Safety Consulting, the University of Hull, Harrison Solway and Hirebase on the shirt and Steve Leaming Plant Hire, ESM and Instamod on the shorts. If you’re a keen reader of my work, you will know how much this is appreciated. I will never stop saying thank you to the people behind these companies.
When I study a kit, I think it’s important for me to be as objective as possible. That is what gives Hull KR Shirts credibility, in my opinion. That being said, I genuinely feel like supporters will struggle to find fault with the latest Hull KR alternate kit. It’s not outlandish or convoluted. Instead, it is clean, stylish and tastefully builds on the foundations of Hull KR’s kit history.
When can I see it?
Make sure to keep an eye on the social media channels of the club’s principal partner, Connexin, for another teaser this afternoon, before the full reveal at 6:00 PM.
You can expect to see Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Jez Litten and Young Player of the Year Louix Gorman modelling the new strip, which is in stock and available to order now for immediate dispatch. I have it on good authority that there could be a surprise in-play for some of those supporters who make their purchase ahead of the full reveal, so if you’re going to buy it anyway, you might want to commit to hitting that add to cart button before 6:00 PM, just in case…
There will also be a training range that will be released in this design. Stay tuned for updates on this as it will be revealed at a later date.
This isn’t all from me, though. Hull KR Shirts will be back tomorrow with a full and extensive review once the world has seen the latest Hull KR kit release. If you haven’t already, you can read my review on the 2024 Hull KR home kit here.
Up the Robins!
Hull KR Shirts 