Cheltenham Town's new 2026-27 away kit has been voted the worst football kit of August 2026 in a global fan poll. The Adidas design was selected as the month's most unpopular shirt in a vote organised by the kit news outlet Footy Headlines, which published the result on Saturday, September 5.
Footy Headlines said: "The Adidas Cheltenham Town 2026-27 away shirt was voted the worst football kit of August 2026." The League Two club's offering surpassed high-profile entries from across Europe to claim the unwanted title, including the third kits of Fulham and Italian side Lecce. The official vote was conducted via FIFA Kit Creator and ran for three days before the result was confirmed.
What other kits were in the running?
The shortlist for the worst kit of August featured 25 designs from clubs worldwide. It was dominated by third kits and special editions from major teams, setting a high bar for unpopularity. Among the notable entries were the 2026-27 third shirts of European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as a design from Premier League side Newcastle United. Other prominent clubs with kits in contention included Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Rayo Vallecano, and French outfit Stade Rennais.
This context makes Cheltenham Town's victory in the poll particularly striking, as it beat designs from clubs with global fanbases and much larger commercial profiles. The vote highlights the subjective and often divisive nature of kit design in the modern game.
How is the team performing on the pitch?
While the kit has drawn criticism, Cheltenham Town's early-season form on the field has been more positive. As of September III, the Robins sit 6th in the League Two standings, having taken 7 points from their first four matches. Their record shows two wins, one draw, and one loss, with a recent sequence of results reading win, draw, loss, win. The team has scored 8 goals and conceded 7, giving them a +1 goal difference. They are currently just 2 points behind early leaders Bristol Rovers in the title race.
This solid start provides a useful counterpoint to the kit controversy, showing that performances matter more than aesthetics. Fans can track the squad's progress and upcoming matches on our dedicated fixtures and stats pages.
What does this mean for the club?
Such attention, even for a negative reason, still puts Cheltenham Town in a spotlight usually reserved for elite clubs. The kit's design will now be a talking point whenever the team wears it on their travels this season. It serves as a reminder that every element of a club's identity, from results to merchandise, is scrutinised by supporters and the wider football community.
The club will now focus on maintaining its promising league position. Their next challenge is to continue picking up points and close the gap at the top of the table. The current squad, detailed on our squad page, has shown it has the quality to compete at the right end of League Two this season.
