The Dugout
Articles & Features
Kit releases, retro deep-dives, and opinions from the shirt collecting world.
The other side of Herzogenaurach: Puma's history in football
Born from a family feud in a small Bavarian town, Puma has spent more than seven decades building one of football's most distinctive kit legacies.
The decade Umbro owned English football
For one decade, Umbro dressed the England national team, the biggest clubs in the land, and produced some of the most collectible shirts in the sport's history. This is how they did it.
How Castore went from startup to dressing Rangers, Leverkusen and England
In less than a decade, Castore built a premium sportswear brand from nothing and positioned itself as a genuine alternative to Nike and Adidas in professional football.
From Herzogenaurach to the World Cup: the history of adidas and football
How a shoe factory in a small Bavarian town became the dominant force in football kit design, from screw-in studs in 1954 to 22 federation kits at the 2026 World Cup.
How Nike conquered football: the full story
From a $16.95 boot that fell apart in the rain to dressing Brazil, Barcelona, and Manchester United. This is how Nike became the most powerful name in football.
Kappa and Juventus: the partnership that defined an era
In the 1990s, Kappa and Juventus produced some of the most collectible shirts in football history. Then came the Kombat bodysuit, and nothing was ever quite the same again.