West Brom in Pinstripes? Pah!

classic pinstripe...will Albions's new shirt be based on a similar look?

West Bromwich Albion's Jeremy Peace has decided, it seems, to go with a pinstripe design for next season's shirts.  If the media images can be relied on (and the official Adidas strip is yet to be publically unveiled) Albion will be playing predominantly in white shirts in 2014-15.  This decision to change our traditional (and famous) block stripe shirt, is not something I would have expected from Peace - a lifelong fan too from all reports.

If West Brom had just been taken over by some foreign conglomerate, say in the Far East or Saudi Arabia, it would have come as less of a surprise.  A financial Johnny Come Lately cannot be expected to understand a club's roots or the fan's love for traditions.  Look at Cardiff as an example of a club that has been changed to the point that fans hold aloft scarves of different colours from the ones their side now play in.  This is something no fans should have to endure!

The pay off for clubs like Southampton, who also ditched their block stripes quite recently, has been the improvements that foreign investment has made to their playing staff.  A small price to pay for onfield success?  That depends who you talk to.  But I think Albion fans are prouder of their tradition than that.  The players who wear our stripes are stars no matter how much they might be worth on the football market...the same attitude that makes us hard on those players who show disregard for the shirt too.  At the end of the day being a fan of WBA is about having an identity - and the shirt's integrity is core to that!

I for one was really annoyed when Jeremy Peace overrode many fans by getting rid of the iconic yellow/green striped away shirt.  Anyone who can recall the likes of Regis, Cantello, Wile and co. flying these colours on their away days will know what I mean.  But the chairman decided, for some reason, that Albion were less effective in this colour and since then I think it is fair to say most of our away shirt colours have been fairly forgettable.  The current red and black is okay, I suppose, but hardly gives us an iconic away day identity which we once had.

As a final word, I must say I am not here to have a go at Jeremy Peace.  This season has been something of a nightmare but prior to this one his planning has served us well.  Indeed, it is hard to know where we would be right now without his astuteness.  But Jeremy please, please don't turn us into some bland looking corporate outfit.  Yes, I know pinstripes may go better with a pair of jeans than block stripes but pinstripes are not for matchday!

More from Albion Attitudes soon!