We’ve searched high and low amongst the 60 clubs in Italy’s third tier to bring you the finest new shirts on display in 2020/21. Enjoy this treasure trove of left-field manufacturers, bespoke designs and unique colourways…
Sudtirol x Mizuno
Mizuno are better known for their escapades in the Far East, but are also fairly active in the lower reaches of Italian football, also supplying to Novara and Cesena amongst others. However, these Sudtirol shirts are the pick of the bunch, with a very crisp white home shirt. The single band across the chest exists in perfect harmony with those cuffs. Also check out their in-vogue gold and back away shirt.
PALERMO x Kappa
It was a three-way scrap between Bari, Modena and Palermo for the Kappa nomination, but Palermo’s away shirt took it at a canter in the end. The repeated pattern of the badge is a masterstroke and has the makings of an instant classic. The bold cuffs, also a feature of this season’s Fiorentina and Brescia shirts from the same manufacturer, finish things off beautifully. Thankfully, the shirt is available to buy without the cacophony of sponsors which blight the first-team’s jerseys.
Pro Sesto x Errea
Errea are another Italian manufacturer serving up fantastic bespoke designs. The contrast between white and blue works perfectly on this Pro Sesto shirt. On first inspection, it’s a really simplistic design, but look a little closer and you quickly spot some fantastic nuance. A subliminated chequer-board within the blue band alternates between the modern club crest and the tower symbol, an historic feature of the club badge.
Alessandria x Adidas
Alessandria’s shades of grey won’t be for everyone, but their unique colour palette make the shirts instantly recognisable on the Italian circuit. This season’s jersey comes courtesy of a new partnership with Adidas, a brand who aren’t particularly active in Italian football (see also Juventus and Pisa). They won’t be winning any awards for innovation in design, but this icon from one of Italy’s historic clubs would grace any collection.
Sambendettese x Nike
Spirits are high by the Adriatic, with the club having recently been taken over by a consortium headed by an Italian music star. His first act – a gift to the fans – was to sign former Milan and Barcelona forward Maxi Lopez. Their new Nike kit marks a departure from their traditional blue and red halves and is strongly reminiscent of recent PSG designs…with just a hint of Bangor City (with whom Samb share an owner and a sponsor).
TERNANA x Macron
Much like Alessandria, Ternana are immediately recognisable in Italian football for their unique colourway. This year, they’ve demonstrated perfectly how to innovate within the confines of a striped design. The broad vertical bands have given them bandwidth to innovate with some faded patterning on the shoulders. The tertiary yellow theme on the collar, badge, sponsor and manufacturer’s logo tie things together beautifully.
Perugia x Frankie Garage
Frankie Garage are an Italian fashion brand, whose owners are also in charge at Perugia. They’ve produced some really inventive kits in recent years and have come up with the goods once again this year. This 115-year anniversary kit includes a bespoke subliminated pattern, which is replicated across home, away and third shirts. We look forward to next season’s 116-year anniversary design…
Mantova x Givova
Italian manufacturer Givova are particularly active at Serie C level, but this Mantova shirt is the pick of the bunch. There’s just something about a sash design. The over-sized manufacturer ‘tick’ on the sleeve – a feature of all Givova designs – won’t be to everyone’s taste. Mantova’s away shirt features an exact reversal of the colour scheme. Neat and tidy.
pro vercelli x Eye Sports
Eye Sportwear are based in Cagliari, Sardinia and have become increasingly influential in recent seasons, also supplying clubs such as Catanzaro, Turris and Olbia at Serie C level. We’re big fans of this fresh, all-white design they’ve produced for Pro Vercelli. The cross of Saint Ambrose, which has been taken from the club badge, has been used to good effect on the home socks.
Como x Legea
With a stadium located immediately adjacent to the lake shores, Como 1907 have one of the most beautiful settings in European football. Legea have produced a bespoke trio of shirt designs this season, incorporating the aquatic waves from the modern club badge onto the chest of the shirt. Also watch out for two young English players, Amrit Bansal-McNulty and Lewis Walker (son of Des), whom Como have signed from QPR this summer.
Lucchese x Joma
Hailing from the Tuscan city of Lucca, Lucchese have embellished what might otherwise be considered a relatively basic design from Joma by adding…a golden panther’s head! This is a modern incarnation of the altogether more sedate mascot which appears on the club badge. The South American-style plethora of sponsors unfortunately do little for the overall aesthetic of a shirt.
MATCHBALL x ERREA
The final word goes to the 2020/21 Serie C matchball. The ‘Connector’ features the name of every Italian region represented in Italy’s third tier – a very nice touch.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, why not check out our Serie B 2020/21 kit review.
Calcio England 
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