If the black away strip offered by Castore split opinion, the new purple third kit worn against Malmo has provided something that almost every Rangers fan can agree on – that the company tasked with providing memorable strips in such an important season has missed the mark, by quite a bit.
Based on the iconic lilac strip worn by the likes of Brian Laudrup, Richard Gough and Ally McCoist in the mid-nineties, what they failed to take into consideration is that we never actually won a game wearing it, a defeat in pre-season against Sampdoria and in the league against Motherwell puts it in the same bracket as the infamous retro “cup” jersey of last year, regardless of how well sought after it is by collectors.
The release of the strip has been rushed by the club due to Malmo being limited with their options despite appearing to wear an away strip at the weekend that wouldn’t clash with our home kit and we had already played in kits that didn’t clash – why not just wear those? UEFA and their regulations must have something to do with it.
Rangers fans took to social media after the revelation was made, and it’s safe to say, they were far from impressed with Castore’s latest offering…
This should be it for Castore tbh. They’re quite clearly not bothered with us
— Carson Ritchie (@carsonritchie__) August 10, 2021
That’s terrible! Not been particularly fond of any this year tbh – I’d have went with at least one being an old style strip to mark 150
— derek campbell (@albinojoe90) August 10, 2021
4 words. Not good enough
— Douglas Park (@douglaspark92) August 10, 2021
This is horrid mate. “Slap the badge on any old crap and it will sell” type approach. Castore have produced some absolutely awful strips this season. It’s a no from me. Again.
— Alan Murdoch (@alanmurdoch70) August 10, 2021
Im not one for not liking strips but the away strip this season and this one are horrific. They look so cheap!!!
— Wolfy🌊🐺🇬🇧🏴 (@nicol_euan) August 10, 2021
Absolutely dreadful….and the sales will show it!!
— Where’s Peter (@MacKaMac) August 10, 2021
Part of me is starting to think our support are part of a social sciences experiment, testing how subservient we are and willing to buy merch even though it’s rotten. No way someone looked at that and thought “ah, this is a good one.”
— Marxist Rangers (@MarxistRangers2) August 10, 2021
How can so many fans want a top that resembles the original kit on our 150th anniversary, and we don’t get any at all like it? Who designs the strips and thinks ‘yes we see the fans want a white strip, lets do two blues and a lilac, they’ll love them? 😂
— Deek (@DeekMc1980) August 10, 2021
And these were the responses fit for publication.
What's your overall impression of Castore?
Good
Could do better
Poor
They have one chance left to redeem themselves, and it better be white, with a grandad collar, in a fitting tribute to the strip worn by our Founding Fathers, their names are on the inside of the tops this year, at least give them one they’d be proud to wear.