Phil Gatenby.
Malcolm Allison wasn't just a brilliant coach. While he was ahead of his time in training and fitness techniques, he was also forward thinking in off field matters that ultimately benefitted the team and shaped the club's future.
In October 1968, City as Champions faced Everton at Goodison Park. City playing in their away kit as to not clash with Everton's royal blue, stunned the City faithful in turning up wearing a red and black striped shirt, black shorts and socks with red trim. The traditional maroon strip had been switched to a new away kit that included the colour red, which did not go down well with the City faithful.
Of course seven months later City lifted the FA Cup wearing the new look and within twelve months had worn the strip while winning the League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup too and the objections to the colour of the strip were long gone as it became a firm fan favourite amongst fans and remains so to this day.
Allison made no secret of his inspiration for bringing about the change in away strip. His admiration for AC Milan, watching them win the Eurpean Cup and European Cup Winners Cup and seeing how fantastic they looked in that strip sowed the seed for the transformation of City's away kit.
And then Allison did it again for the 1971 / 72 season. He introduced a new design - not just one, but two, designing a third kit in the days when third kits were not a thing!
This time an all white kit with a red and blue sash on the front became the second kit. The third kit was a darker blue with a red and white sash. The third kit, not worn often, lasted two seasons and has never been seen since at City. The white shirt with the sash lasted until 1977, though the sash became red and black. It has been brought back in 2003, 2010 and 11.
Once again Allison took the idea from an Italian side. Bologna played City home.amd away in 1970 as both sides won their respective League Cups and played in the Anglo Italian League Cup Winners Cup. Bologna won 3-2 on aggregate and Allison was impressed with their kit with the sash. (see picture below)
When Allison left Maine Road in 1973 and then joined Crystal Palace, he really went to town on stamping a new image on the Selhurst Park club.
Out went the club nickname "The Glaziers" and in came The Eagles, along with a new badge to reflect the name. The traditional claret and blue colours of the club went too as Allison brought in Umbro - City's kit manufacturer - and in came the familiar (to City fans) white shirt with a blue and red sash.....
Allison's influence on Palace remains to this day as they still wear shirts of differing colours with a sash. Indeed their fourth kit launched this season is a dark blue shirt with a red and white sash. City may have long abandoned this little used kit from 1972, but it is being kept alive by Palace and with it Malcolm's vision from fifty years ago.
Pictures:
1 & 2. Mike Summerbee modeling City's Allison inspired new away kits in 1971 / 72
3. City's players applauding Bologna after their Anglo Italian cup win at Maine Road
4. Crystal Palace's current fourth kit.
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