True Colours: Rovers' Promotion & Cup Winning Kit

Ahead of Leicester City's friendly against Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium on Saturday (1pm BST kick-off), LCFC.com looks back at a memorable shirt from the Blues' history.

2020-09-03T15:14:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

03 Sep, 2020

True Colours: Rovers' Promotion & Cup Winning Kit

Ahead of Leicester City's friendly against Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium on Saturday (1pm BST kick-off), LCFC.com looks back at a memorable shirt from the Blues' history.

Sam Jones

2020-09-03T15:14:00.000Z

True Colours: Rovers' Promotion & Cup Winning Kit

Ahead of Leicester City's friendly against Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium on Saturday (1pm BST kick-off), LCFC.com looks back at a memorable shirt from the Blues' history.

Sam Jones

2020-09-03T15:14:00.000Z

True Colours: Rovers' Promotion & Cup Winning Kit

Ahead of Leicester City's friendly against Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium on Saturday (1pm BST kick-off), LCFC.com looks back at a memorable shirt from the Blues' history.

Sam Jones

2020-09-03T15:14:00.000Z

True Colours: Rovers' Promotion & Cup Winning Kit

Ahead of Leicester City's friendly against Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium on Saturday (1pm BST kick-off), LCFC.com looks back at a memorable shirt from the Blues' history.

Sam Jones

2020-09-03T15:14:00.000Z

Following relegation from the Premier League in 1999, just four years after winning the top-flight title, Rovers were looking to bounce back under caretaker-turned-permanent manager, Tony Parkes.

A disappointing first campaign in the First Division since 1992, in which Rovers eventually finished 11th, led to Parkes stepping down to the role of assistant manager and being replaced by former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, in March 2000.

Bringing in Craig Hignett, Stig Inge Bjørnebye, Marcus Bent and Mark Hughes over the summer, Souness' revamped side took the division by storm in 2000/01, wearing a now iconic Kappa kit.

The traditional blue and white halves featured on many Rovers shirts were present, with an understated white collar and alternate dark blue and white colouring on the long sleeves.

Sponsored by computing company Time, a blue version of the Kappa logo was used on the front of the shirt, across from the red rose in Rovers' club crest.

Complete with white shorts and white and blue socks, it was the first Rovers shirt to be made by Kappa, who replaced Uhlsport as kit manufacture.

The kit is also fondly remembered amongst the Rovers faithful for being used during the club's 125th anniversary year, which was marked during a 1-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 November, 2000.

New signing Hughes scored twice to overcome Tranmere Rovers during a run of six successive wins, which kickstarted Rovers' season and saw them move into the top six.

Wimbledon, Grimsby Town and Huddersfield Town were all dispatched without conceding a goal during that period, along with victories over Stockport County and Barnsley.

A 5-0 rout of local rivals Burnley in early April 2001, the Blues' biggest win of the season, kept their promotion push on track and Souness' side would only lose one of their final 16 league fixtures - to champions Fulham.

Rovers' promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed against Preston North End on 2 May, 2001, with Matt Jansen - top scorer with 23 efforts - netting the winning goal at Deepdale, playing in the red and black striped away kit.

The Blues finished second, on 91 points, four ahead of third-placed Bolton Wanderers, who were promoted via the play-offs, and 10 behind Fulham in the final standings, whilst also reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The kit was then worn again for the Blues' first season back in the top flight, which ended with a highly credible 10th place finish. Rovers' first three points of the campaign came at home to Tottenham Hotspur - a 2-1 victory in August 2001 thanks to goals from Damien Duff and Alan Mahon.

Further highlights included holding Manchester United and Liverpool to draws at Ewood Park, whilst also taking a point from visits to Arsenal and Chelsea. However, it was in the League Cup that Rovers really made their mark during 2001/02.

Souness' men reached the final of the competition for the first time, beating Tottenham 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, thanks to goals from Matt Jansen and Andy Cole.

Jansen was the competition's leading scorer that campaign, with six goals to his name, including the opener in the final. Christian Ziege's equaliser meant it was all square at the break, before Cole's winner came 20 minutes from time to spark jubilant scenes amongst the travelling Rovers faithful.

Their route from the second round to the final saw them defeat Oldham Athletic, Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as beating Sheffield Wednesday in both legs of the semi-final.

Henning Berg and Garry Flitcroft lifted the trophy in their iconic home kit and it remains the only time Rovers have won the League Cup.

Although Kappa continued as Rovers' shirt manufacture for the following two campaigns, it is the first incarnation of the kit, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season, that resonates most with the Club's supporters.

It proved to be the last Rovers kit to carry over to a second season, with every incarnation from 2002/03 onwards lasting for just the one year.

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