Staffordshire football team banned from playing in 'too dark' home kit
A football team from Staffordshire has been banned from playing in their home kit – after it was branded 'too dark'.
Whittington United FC, who play in the Burton and District Sunday League, have been told by league officials their navy blue and black home shirt is not acceptable.
The club, based at Bit End Field in Fisherwick Road, Whittington, are not the first team to have their home kit banned by the league.
Springfield FC also had their Navy strip banned due to the difficulty to decipher between the players and the officials, who wear black.
Phillip Lloyd, the secretary for Burton & District Sunday League, said: "Last season, Springfield wore a navy shirt with black shorts and black socks which we received complaints about from referees and officials.
"Towards the end of last season, we asked all clubs to come to the annual general meeting and show us the shirt they planned to wear for next season.
"Whittington came with a photo of their shirt and when they showed us, the referee secretary first thought it was the kit that Springfield had sold online.
"The rules state in a Step 7 league, which we are, that referees have to wear black and that teams cannot wear black or very dark shirts.
"I feel sorry for Whittington, from what I understand they don't wear black shorts and socks and probably haven't received any complaints.
"The problem that we have is that Springfield are in Whittington's division.
"We can't allow one team to wear it and another to not. We are just applying the rules."
Whittington United have used the strip for the last two years, including their Presidents Cup Final game last year, which was played at England's St Georges Park training base. The club spent £700 on the kit which they planned to use for the next few seasons.
But club bosses will now have to shell out for a new home strip, as well as an away strip, to use for the upcoming season.
A new set of home and away kits will cost the club around £1,500. But the club is hoping sponsors will come forward to aid in their funding towards new kits for the start of the 2015/16 season in August.
