Five best and five worst Brighton kits

We look back at 30 years of team strips from current Premier League clubs, with the Seagulls next on the catwalk

BRIGHTON: BEST: 5) 2016/17 away: There is something pleasing on the eye about the black and gold combo on strips and this Nike effort is no exception. A pleasing season on the eye for Seagulls fans, as well, courtesy of Glenn Murray’s 23 goals that helped the club back into the top-flight for the first time in 34 years, only missing out on the Championship title by one point. Getty

4) 2017/18 home: A welcome return to the top table for Brighton - and the first team committed to a solid blue and shite striped home shirt since Sheffield Wednesday dropped down to the second tier in 2000. Wigan may have dabbled over the years but showed scant loyalty. Getty

3) 2002/04 home: Having Brighton-based dance music Skint Records - with legendary big beat DJ and Seagulls fan Fat Boy Slim on their books - as main sponsor for nine years, gives the shirts a certain kudos. The team were relegated from the second tier, then quickly promoted again in this classic home kit. Getty

2) 2014/15 away: Big guns Nike took over kit duties and the famous red and black stripes of AC Milan were adopted for the team’s away colours. Sadly for Brighton, the team were more Craig Mackail-Smith than Marco van Basten and they escaped relegation to the third tier by the skin of their teeth. Getty

1) 2011-12 away: After being denied a black and green striped kit six years earlier, when a fan vote had inexplicably gone in favour of a woeful all-maroon affair, there was to be no stupid democracy getting in the way this time round. An eye-catching bright green effort that did manager Gus Poyet and his players proud. Getty

WORST: 5) 2009/10 away: A weird kit from Errea which cannot seem to decide whether it should go for black and red Milan stripes or a simple all-red number … so decides to swerve wildly between the two in one shirt. Getty

3) 2015/16 away: MY EYES! MY EYES! This cornea melting ‘volt (?!) yellow’ top from Nike needs the brightness levels turned down several levels before it can be deemed acceptable for football pitches. A third Championship semi-final play-off defeat in four seasons would add to the pain for Brighton fans. Getty

4) 2004/06 home: Not even a large black seagull and the iconic Skint Records logo on the front can rescue this one. Tradition was recklessly launched out of the window here in favour of a Argentina vibe, jettisoning the classic dark blue stripe. Mark McGhee’s team were rightly relegated from the Championship as a result. Getty

2) 1991/93 home: For two years, Brighton kits would go rogue both home and away. Let’s start with the former and a valuable football strip lesson: blue and white striped top - acceptable. blue and white striped top WITH MATCHING SHORTS!! Not acceptable. An acceptable look for a deckchair on Brighton beach or maybe pyjamas at home that won’t be seen by anyone bar forgiving loved ones. Getty

1) 1991/93 away: Heads should have rolled at Ribero over this. I mean, I’m all for embracing pink on the pitch but this looks like an errant sweet from Willy Wonka’s factory. And matching shorts! Really dark days for the club and upsetting to see. Getty

Premier League clubs returned to training this week after the coronavirus-enforced lockdown on the current season.

And, as we edge closer to a possible return to action next month, we take a look back on 30 years of football kits from the current 20 top-flight English clubs.

There have been some stunning works of wonder over the years ... as well as truly heinous crimes committed in the name of sporting fashion.

Next in our series is Brighton, so take a trip down memory lane and click on the arrows or simply swipe to look at the next image.