It wasn’t that long ago that Sunderland didn’t even sell replica goalkeeper kits, and now, ahead of the 2026 – 27 season, they’ve been given their own focus and launch, with the Montgomery Collection proving extremely popular upon release.
It was as recently as 2023 – 24 that you could only buy outfield strips via the club, the unavailability of Nike’s template top for the stoppers being just one of several issues supporters had with the club’s retail operation at the time. Since then, however, Sunderland
have wised up and seen the value in stocking a wide range of merchandise and continuing to try and maximise revenue. The trick, of course, is to do that without leaving folk feeling fleeced, and this latest reveal certainly appears to have produced something that people are more than happy to stump up for.
By attaching the name of Jimmy Montgomery – Sunderland’s hometown hero, record appearance-maker and the first man to have a stand named after him at the Stadium of Light – to the range, the club have put themselves under even more pressure to deliver. The bespoke collection, simple at first glance yet with plenty of meaning attached to it, thankfully pays suitable homage and, like last season’s designs, will surely become a regular terrace-wear staple – helped in part by them being short-sleeved but, more importantly, by looking the part.
It is often the case that goalkeepers are given just one design, with different colourways made available in case of emergency. This time, though, Sunderland have three separate looks that, whilst sharing some features, all have their own identity – a ‘home’ dark green top with sublimated dot patterning, a yellow ‘away’ outfit (complete with 1960s-style ‘SAFC’ initials on the back) and an orange ‘third’ option with the old-style ship crest, a hint, presumably, to what the accompanying outfield strip will carry.
All the strips feature iron-on hummel chevrons, sewn-on badges and Jimmy Montgomery’s signature on the back of the neck. The shorts all have matching mesh-panel detailing, but the home versions are black, which, along with red socks and a separate colour round-neck collar, is a deliberate nod to the 1973 Cup Final, in which Monty made his most famous saves – the remarkable double stop that is represented through the abstract dot formation. The yellow base of the change top is accentuated by darker repeated signatures and black trim, while the orange option displays red trim and tonal ‘627’ patterning to reflect the number of times he turned out.
To my mind, looks-wise, the collection is stunning. We do know the drill by now, however, and prices (£65 for an adult top and £30 for adult shorts) are creeping up. As yet, there has been no mention of hummel applying any of their ECO8 technology when producing the materials, which is not ideal either, but the business side of things cannot be faulted. Initial reactions suggest that the collection will be hugely popular, with hummel’s relationship with the club once again bearing fruit. Time and time again, the manufacturer and the club’s hierarchy have nailed Sunderland’s identity and covered all the angles, right down to the choice of the launch venue, which, appropriately enough, was the Times Inn.
The pub, used before by the club for marketing, sits by the Wear in Southwick, the area where Montgomery spent most of his childhood growing up. A magnificent mural of him adorns one of the exterior walls and, in this collection, he now has another fitting tribute to his years of service.
The symmetry did not end there either. Hours after the kits were revealed, it was announced that James Montgomery, an extended relative of Jimmy, is going to be taking up a coaching role at the Academy of Light whilst, at teatime, Sunderland Women announced the signing of goalkeeper Fran Stenson from Southampton, one of his former clubs. Admittedly, those final two points are nothing more than coincidence, but on a day when the goalkeeper took top billing, it still felt rather apt.
