Third kits have a knack for endurance, maybe not so in the last decade but until then, retaining strips for another season wasn’t considered taboo. Most of that time, it was just an away kit being relegated to the third for the next campaign but anyway, it prolongs the shelf life to make up for its lack of action.
England’s 2002 third goalkeeper shirt has the feat for lasting five seasons — much longer than its red outfield counterpart, which didn’t see the light of day after 11 months. Although in its time spanning three-and-a-half years, it only got four outings but each one added a new variation.
v Sweden, 2002
Its debut came on the Three Lions‘s opening game of the World Cup, against Sweden. Being in yellow with navy blue sleeves, shorts and socks, that would clash with the opponents but as England were drawn as the ‘home’ team, it was them who had to change to blue.
Despite there also being the all-black from 2001 and sky blue in this same template on offer, it was this that was chosen as they all made one appearance apiece in the group stage.
Worn by David Seaman in the 1-1 draw, it featured Umbro’s serif font introduced in 1999 and like with the rest of the team’s tops, the player name was arched.
v Ukraine, 2004
Jumping ahead a bit now to 26 months’ time — not being needed during 2002-03 and 03-04 — it was against another side who wear yellow with blue, in the form of Ukraine. In a post-Euro 2004 friendly at St James’ Park, the visitors again changed to blue whilst the hosts would be in red.
Although there being offerings of a black-and-red (as seen together versus Iceland at the FA Summer Tournament), and even an emergency all-black option from the Euros used in the interim, it was this one this one that was called upon.
Replacing Seaman as number one for club and country, Manchester City’s David James was next up to wear the wears as he kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 trouncing. The difference this time being the updated font which came with the 2003 home release, now with straightened names.
The England badge also got modified with that launch, using the same lettering that features on the backs of the jerseys but they remained untouched on this kit’s appliqués.
v Spain, 2004
We only had to wait three months for it to be worn next, in Spain for a friendly that was in name only.
Not being suitable against Ukraine, the 2004 blue-and-silver uniform could have been equipped but no. It had to be this one even though the bottoms clashed with the opposition.
Now in Paul Robinson’s trusty frame, he made it the third custodian to sport the shirt and shorts in as many games, in a narrow 1-0 loss where he saved a penalty from Real Madrid legend Raúl González on his home turf.
That’s because the socks received an upgrade, now in plain navy instead of having the St George’s band going around the turnover.
v Argentina, 2005
A year later, Argentina would be the fourth and final side to face off with this juggernaut, now on the neutral ground of Switzerland in a thrilling 3-2 win.
Again, Robinson took the gloves and unlike its other outings, there was no other choice as what he could wear. His other options were navy or slate and with la Albiceleste being in the former colour, the sleeve clash would have to suffice.
Paired alongside the 2005 outfield home on the night, it was the third home strip it complemented and with that came a tweak to the typeset. Despite the primary goalie apparel having its own dark blue stockings with a red band on the turnover, it was the plain set as seen in Madrid that was used.
Its white outline was made silver and the crest was added to the back number, still jarring with the outfit’s old style, and the short digits were predominantly silver. A much more subtle difference was that the ‘v’ in the match details featured a white keyline.
Kitted Off 