Nostalgia: The Journey of Claret & Blue, a Legendary Pairing in Football’s Colour Palette

Aston Villa, West Ham United, and Burnley are among a number of clubs, including several from beyond England, that share a distinctive colour scheme for their kits: the traditional and timeless claret and blue. But which team was the pioneer in donning claret and blue shirts? And how did these colours come to be adopted by others?

The Historic Claret Not Initially Described as Claret

The origin story unfolds with Aston Villa being the first team to sport the burgundy red (commonly known as claret) alongside sky blue.

In the club’s formative years, having been founded in 1874, Aston Villa initially wore a variety of different kit colours. However, in 1886, a new design was launched.

The original concept called for shirts to be chocolate and sky blue, but during the manufacturing process at the textile mill, the chocolate hue accidentally emerged as a deep burgundy red. Instead of raising concerns, Aston Villa accepted the shirts as they were delivered, thereby establishing the iconic claret and blue combination.

This colour scheme made its debut during the inaugural English league season of 1888/89, nearly 140 years ago. Aston Villa distinguished themselves as one of the premier clubs at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, cementing the claret and blue as a hallmark of quality. Consequently, other football clubs in England began adopting the same colours in pursuit of mimicking Aston Villa’s success.

One of the most renowned clubs in claret and blue is West Ham United, which fortuitously came into its colours.

The Claret and Blue Connection Through a Betting Contest

West Ham United, the well-known London club, made the transition to claret and blue soon after the original Thames Ironworks FC was rebranded in 1900.

According to folklore, when celebrated English sprinter William Belton, who had connections with West Ham by assisting the players with their athletic training, attended a fair in Birmingham, a group of Aston Villa players spotted him and invited him to race.

Belton wagered with the footballers that he could defeat them in the race, and he did so with ease. Overconfident, the Villa players wagered an amount they couldn’t settle.

One player, responsible for laundering the team’s jerseys, suggested that instead of cash, they could cover the debt with a set of Aston Villa kits. The sprinter brought these claret and blue shirts back to London and presented them to his club, which is how West Ham earned their identity as a claret and blue team.

1910: A Milestone Year for Claret and Blue

In 1910, a pivotal year when Aston Villa claimed their sixth league title, two other English clubs adopted claret and blue in tribute to them.

These clubs were Burnley, currently competing in the second tier, and Scunthorpe United, who play in the sixth tier of the English football league system.

International Expansion of Claret and Blue

Admired in England, Aston Villa’s iconic colours crossed borders, making their way over 3,300 miles to Turkey.

Trabzonspor, established in 1967 in the city of Trabzon, chose to represent Aston Villa’s colours right from its inception.

In 1976, Trabzonspor became the first team outside of the major Istanbul triad—comprised of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas—to secure the Turkish League title. They have since won the title seven times, solidifying claret and blue as a successful colour scheme in Turkey as well.