TWTD understands Town will wear their blackout third kit for the first time when they host Derby County live on Sky on Friday 21st October (KO 8pm).

The third strip, which was designed in conjunction with sponsor Ed Sheeran, has proved hugely popular since its release in August when more than 3,000 were sold in one day. Yesterday, after it went back on sale, fans purchased another 2,000.

In total more than 11,000 shirts have been sold, more than the combined total of home and away kits during the entire 2020/21 season.

The Blues last played a competitive home game in anything other their home kit in January 1979 against Orient in the FA Cup when they wore white and black, and prior to that, in January 1960, they wore red and white when they hosted then-non-league Peterborough United, also in the FA Cup. However, it could be the first time Town have been kitted out in anything other than their home strip in a league game at Portman Road.

The EFL allow clubs to wear a strip other than their regular home kit having sought permission, which the Blues were granted for the Rams' visit last week.

Derby seem likely to wear their maroon away shirt with both their home shirt having a large black area, as well as black shorts and socks, and their second strip black with a green trim.

The blackout shirt is currently sold out in all adult sizes other than small with the club set to announce details of a pre-order scheme for those still to get hold of one.

Photo: ITFC

legoman added 10:31 - Oct 12 Horrible kit and we are certain to lose.
1

Orraman added 10:58 - Oct 12 Almost 24hrs on and I still can't believe that we are dropping our iconic blue and white for a drab black kit at home. As a couple of others have mentioned above instead of a bright blue team playing against a team in white, we now have one in black and one in maroon. Be difficult enough for those with 20/20 vision to distinguish the teams and shows total disregard for fans with any form of impaired sight. I have perfect vision and found the Plymouth game hard to follow due to colour similarities and although I will still turn up at PR I should imagine it will be well nigh impossible to follow on Sky

5

Linkboy13 added 12:57 - Oct 12 When this gruesome black shirt first emerged i did jokingly say we could wear it if a former player or manager had just passed away. If the club made a statement to the fact that we would honour the passing of John Duncan by wearing all black against Derby who remember was also one of his former clubs i would respect this one hundred percent.
1

Rimsy added 15:06 - Oct 12 I would have thought the time for wearing all black, was the first home game after the queen passed away. Not in favour of messing with the blue at home any other time.
4

exeterblue10 added 15:46 - Oct 12 We are black, we are grey, we look like we're playing away, lala la la la la....
2

IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:38 - Oct 12 We have had worse problems.
0

Cloddyseedbed added 09:43 - Oct 13 Very disappointed by this decision to play in a black kit at home. We are at home and blue and white is our home colours. It should never be messed with only under exceptional circumstances. I seem to remember another team a few years ago blaming the colour of the kit (black) for a defeat because the players said it was difficult to pick out their own players on the pitch against the backgrounds.

2

BlueArrow added 09:56 - Oct 13 Playing in black on a dark winter's night for no particular reason hope they've changed the floodlight bulbs that aren't working so there's no excuse when passes go astray
2

ClactonTrueBlue added 10:14 - Oct 13 Nothing could be more disrespectful to fans than not playing in blue and changing when we do not have to. Fans are playing proud to be the blue army for a reason! Rant over!
4

Westy added 11:35 - Oct 13 No comments on here seem to support this Club decision. At best, some have no objection but overwhelmingly comments are strongly opposed to this change. I have supported the Club since 1972 and not seen us run out at Portman Road in anything other than blue and white and don't want to start now. The Club are describing the Blackout shirt as 'iconic'. It was only marketing I think in August with the supposed involvement of Ed Sheeran. It is certainly great that he is so pationate about the Club but regarding the marketing it seems, to my mind at least, a little strange that the Club seem to be pushing this shirt more than any other. Perhaps in time we will discover the reason why.

0

Linkboy13 added 12:30 - Oct 13 As a publicity stunt ive heard the club are considering putting Ed Sheeran in the squad for the Derby game as it's on Sky.
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Linkboy13 added 14:52 - Oct 13 Ive nick named fans that wear the black shirts the Goths. Come on you Goths could catch on.
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BerksBlue15 added 10:33 - Oct 14 Personally, if this shakes up the Sky hoodoo I'm up for it. Would prefer we wore blue but at this point, they can run around with their shorts over their heads for all I care as long as we finally win a game on Sky!!
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