The Pinstripe Design: The Iconic Leicester 1983 Shirt
There’s something rather fitting about Admiral returning to Leicester in 1983.
Founded in Wigston, Leicestershire in 1914, Admiral has always had a connection to the city, making Leicester City a natural fit for the brand. And when the two came together again in 1983, the design team decided not to play it safe.
The familiar royal blue was sharpened by fine white pinstripes running vertically across the body. Simple in execution and striking in effect, the pinstripes gave the shirt a sharper, more distinctive character while keeping Leicester's identity at its core.
It was a style that perfectly captured the early 1980s, when football shirts were beginning to move away from the plain, traditional designs of the previous decade. Pinstripes, geometric details and more considered collars were becoming part of a new visual language for football, and Admiral was right at the forefront of that change.
The shirt also marked an important moment in Leicester City's identity. Alongside the new design came the introduction of the club's iconic 'walking fox' crest, replacing the traditional rounded badge and giving Leicester a new visual identity that would become synonymous with the club throughout the decade.
On the pitch, the shirt became closely associated with one of English football's biggest emerging talents as Gary Lineker was Leicester's leading goalscorer during this period.
Even the finer details reflected the changing style of the era. The traditional crewneck was replaced by a distinctive overlapping V-neck wing collar, adding another layer of character to a shirt that was already a departure from what had come before. Its design language can still be brought to life today.
The pinstripes, royal blue and distinctive wing collar are just some of the details you can explore through Admiral Kitbuilder. Take inspiration from football's most memorable designs, experiment with your own colours and details, and create a kit that's uniquely yours.
