Express & Star

West Bromwich Albion set to ditch blue and white stripes

Albion look set to ditch their traditional blue and white stripes next season in favour of a new 'pinstripe' shirt.

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The Baggies are set to unveil next season's kit in the next few weeks and it is understood the home shirt will be predominantly white with a narrow blue 'pinstripe'.

If confirmed, the shirt will be the biggest break with Hawthorns tradition since the Second World War and the first time since the 1990s that Albion have broken away from their normal 'even' stripes.

The club today refused to comment but the shirt was pictured earlier this week ahead of a PR launch later this summer, and details were leaked into social media.

Sources told the Express & Star that the home shirt will be mainly white, although club insiders have insisted it will still feature a stripe.

That is expected to be narrow, however.

An artist's impression of what the new Albion kit might look like

Pictures of the kit have not leaked out but manufacturers Adidas, with whom the club announced a new two-year deal last night, have previously redesigned Southampton's famous red and white striped kit, replacing it with a predominantly red design.

Albion first played in blue and white stripes in the 1880s after a wide range of kits in their early years, and they have worn the colours since 1892, barring a five-year period in blue shirts and white shorts in the 1940s.

Albion kits down the year - In Pictures

An artist's impression of what the new Albion kit might look like

They opted for their famous 'barcode' kit in the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons with the design, featuring blue stripes of varying widths, proving popular with supporters.

The Baggies will remain with the kit supplier until the end of the 2015-16 season.

The club switched two years ago after they ended their long-standing partnership with Umbro.

Albion's kits for next season will be launched in the next few weeks.

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