Back to the future – check out Walsall's retro 2016/17 kit

The home jersey sees the Saddlers return to a red and black pattern – a throwback to the chequerboard strip worn back in the 1997/98 campaign.

That year, under the guidance of Danish boss Jan Sorensen, Walsall reached the fourth round of both the FA Cup and League Cup – losing out to Manchester United and West Ham respectively.

They also made it through to the regional final of the Auto Windscreens Shield.

However, they didn't fare so well in the old Division Two with Sorenson's men avoiding relegation by just four points.

Both strips were officially launched at New Invention Junior School, in Willenhall.

But while boss Jon Whitney was a fan of the away strip, he described the home shirt as a "grower".

"I think the home shirt is like an Adele album," Whitney joked. "Some of the songs you put on and you think they're great, others you don't like at first but two weeks later you are listening to all of them, all of the time.

"I really love the away one and I think my kids will love it because one of my favourite colours is sky blue.

"The home one is going to be a grower on me.

"But the most important thing is the people we put in them and how they perform."

Meanwhile, Whitney is delighted with how his players have hit the ground running since returning for pre-season training.

"We've got a new group but it's like they have been together for six months," he added.

"That is so rewarding for me and my coaches.

"I've had to change the program because we are so far ahead of schedule. We are playing competitive stuff now so I'm really pleased.

Walsall fans have responded with mixed opinions about the new strips, after 392 people took part in an Express & Star poll.

Thirty per cent of voters loathe the designs, but hot on their heels with 30 per cent were those who love the new-look kits.

Another 27 per cent thought it was just 'OK,' while 11 per cent couldn't make their minds up on whether it was good or bad.

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