At the begining of the 1980s, football kits started to change in their material and design. Going were the days of football kits all being long sleeved rugby-like tops. Sunderland started the decade with in change of design in 1982. Instead of being red and white stripes, they opted for a mostly white shirt with red pinstripes running down the shirt.

Sunderland 1982 White Home Shirt

In 1984, Sunderland first wore a shirt that featured a sponsor across it. The first sponsor used by Sunderland was a company called ‘Cowie’s’. Their name was used on Sunderland shirt for most of the dacade until 1987 and was most notably seen on the kit used in 1984-1985 when sunderland reached the final of the milk cup against Norwich City. the shirt was made by Nike and was unusual as it had gone back to the red and white stripes but strangley had all white sleeves, the only shirt to have so. Away colours used during the decade were: Sky Blue, Red, Sky Blue with Navy Blue sleeves and yellow.

Cowies red & white stripe home shirt

In 1985, Sunderland had a new sponsor, Vaux, who would become Sunderlands longest ever shirt sponsor. their name was used instead of Cowie’s for that year as they kept the same shirt. For 1986-88, Sunderland changed the color of the sleeves to all red which certainly looked better than all white.

Vaux sponsored shirt by Hummel

The last home shirt to be used in the 80’s was back to basic red and white shirt with red and white sleeves. The shirt was now made by Hummel and had their chevron logo’s running down the sleeves. The shirt also had the now standard sponsors name written across the front.

Football kits changed dramitically during the 1980s. At the begining they were plain, thick and only features the clubs colors and badge. By the end of the 80’s, shirts were made of a thinner and ’sporty’ material and featured shirt makers and club sponsors names on them.