Hall of Kits 1987-88 (Home)

First Worn:
Saturday August 8th, 1987 vs. Rangers (League)

Manufacturer:
Adidas

Sponsor:
Belhaven

The summer of 1987 saw a change to the United strip from the now familiar "VG" kit. One major change was the shirt sponsorship, with Dunbar based Belhaven Brewery paying United a substantial figure for a three year contract, in what is believed to be the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in Scotland at the time. If they were to receive half the recognition that VG Foodstores received during their two year deal with United due to the teams European ventures and TV coverage, then Belhaven would have been more than happy.

The new Adidas design - now in their 10th year as kit manufacturers for United - was similar to the previous one, but with some very noticeable changes. Running through the material of the tangerine shirt was a pattern consisting of occasional double diagonal stripes, with three narrow lines running horizontally, and in between were miniature copies of the Adidas three leaf logo. The black collar was now an overlapping V shape, with three thin tangerine stripes as trim. The three stripes on the shoulders now continued down the sleeves, but now the short sleeved version of the top had no cuffs.

The black shorts and tangerine socks again remained the same, as they did throughout all of Adidas's time as kit suppliers, with the three stripes on the sides of the shorts and at the turnover of the socks.

This Home kit first appeared competitively at Ibrox Stadium in the opening match of the 1987/88 season, where United earned a 1-1 draw against Rangers after taking an early lead. The kit was worn for only the one season, with the 1988 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic being its last appearance before a very small change to the overall look.

This long sleeved edition of the shirt (pictured right) was worn by then new United signing, Finnish international Mixu Paatelainen, with the No.16 on the back suggesting it was used for a substitute appearance in the UEFA Cup, possibly one of the matches versus Vitkovice.

Belhaven took a real hands on approach to the sposnorship deal, with large advertising boards in the corners of the ground, and even went as far as presenting a player of the month award.

(Pictured below: Belhaven Chairman Raymond Miguel makes the first presentation of the new Belhaven Player of the Month trophy to February winner Kevin Gallacher in 1988.)