HEARTS today unveiled their new away kit for next season – a classic retro design similar to the club's 1970s Ajax-style shirt.
Our exclusive picture shows the white away shirt with a distinctive navy blue front panel, with predominantly navy shorts and white socks, all carrying Umbro's trademark diamond logo.
The kit, a throwback to the club's white-and-maroon kit of the early 70s, will be available from June 27. The emphasis on dark blue is to signify Hearts' Scottish identity. The back of the shirt incorporates a Scottish saltire at the top, while the tail of the shirt includes the words, "Hearts, Hearts, Glorious Hearts" embroidered into the material. Inside the neck line of the shirt the club's year of formation, 1874, is also inscribed.
The club have confirmed a year-long extension to their sponsorship agreement with Ukio Bankas, the Lithuanian bank owned by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. For the first time, the sponsor's logo has been rotated 90 degrees and sits vertically down the dark blue panel on the front of the new away shirt.
Hearts expect their season 2008/09 kits to prove extremely popular with supporters, with a club spokesperson commenting: "Kids are sure to love the brand new away kit, and with the launch date just in time for the school holidays, it's the perfect chance to make sure they are ready for the summer."
Hearts have enlisted several of their Magnificent Seven children to participate in marketing campaigns for their new merchandise this summer. They will unveil a new home kit next month which, like the away strip, will be visible in a variety of locations including online, outdoor banners, bus adverts and on a national television advertising campaign.
Supporters who order the away kit via Hearts' online store, www.heartsdirect.co.uk, before midnight on Sunday June 22 will receive it on Thursday, June 26 (subject to delivery) fully 24 hours ahead of the official launch.
The full article contains 335 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
