Widnes Vikings have launched the new Academy kits for the 2016 season, both of which will be on sale at the Vikings Superstore.
The kits have been designed by Vikings Academy players, in an exciting project as part of their academic studies with the Club. It has enabled them to learn about the production of a kit from the design concept all the way through to the point of sale.
They have been supported by 24 local businesses, who have pledged their support for the Widnes Vikings Academy and feature as sponsors of the playing kits.
All 24 businesses were entered into a random draw, utilising the official balls used to make the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup draws, and were then picked out for each sponsorship position across the two shirts.
The new Academy Home kit features a traditional black and white Widnes design – a white shirt with black shoulders and trim, black shorts and white socks with black hoops, and also includes the Widnes town crest on the back of the shirt.
This kit includes White Moss Nursery & Garden Centre as front of shirt sponsor, Chadwick Lawrence, FDL Packaging Group, Macfarlane Packaging, Rugby League Cares (courtesy of Martin Hawthorne), Spectrum Welding, Xpel Marketing and Zebra Finance. On the shorts are Bramwell Morris, C&C Insurance Brokers and Nightstop (courtesy of Heritage Leisure who kindly donated the position they won to the Nightstop charity).
The new Academy away kit, which will be worn in the pre-season friendly against Newcastle Thunder on Saturday, carries the same design with a primarily red shirt with white trim, red shorts and red socks with white hoops.
This kit includes Polyblend UK as front of shirt sponsor, Abbeyford Estate Agents, Anthony’s Travel, Electrod UK, Ignition Publications, Lambros Paving Contractors, Office Bridge Solutions, Stobart Group and Stobart Rail. On the shorts are Halton School Dinners, Landscape World and Let’s Party.
Vikings Head of Youth, Phil Finney, said: “This kit is the product of a unique project to hand over the design to the players themselves. To see their work in the flesh and as a finished article is pleasing, and the players will now take the next steps with the kit – wearing it to represent the Club throughout their season in 2016, as well as coming up with a sales and marketing strategy to sell it in the Vikings Superstore.
“With a significant number of the players in the system being from Widnes, they have created an identity that links back to the most successful period in the Club’s history.
“As always, we are extremely grateful for all of the sponsors who have made this happen and whose branding we will be proud to wear alongside the Widnes badge this season.”
Pictured: Liam Walsh, Olly Ashall, Brad Walker and Jack Houghton
The new Academy away kit will get its first outing at Kingston Park on Saturday, when the Vikings take on Newcastle Thunder (3pm kick-off).
The match is FREE for 2016 Viking Stronghold Members (a FREE members ticket must be obtained prior to the fixture). Tickets are available on the gate priced at Adult £10, Concession £7 and Junior £5.
