Not since the late 1970’s had City played in unique, striped shirt kits three times in a row, but the release of the Diadora 2006-2007 kit saw a repeat of that sequence. In terms of club shop sales, the thin striped 2005-2006 shirt proved unpopular compared to the thick, bold striped 2004-2005 release that preceded it, so for City’s second season in the Championship, thick stripes returned.

This shirt (seen on Craig Fagan) had a black central stripe, giving the shirt front three black stripes and four amber stripes, the two outside amber stripes tapered at the bottom due to a piped seam on the bias.

Previously Diadora had outsourced the design of City’s kits to other companies, but this one was designed by them at their base in Giavera del Montello in north-east Italy, and it showed.

Raglan sleeves ensured a neat fit on the shoulders, but the narrow, tapering cut meant it clung to the less than athletic looking physiques of Jon Parkin and Dean Windass as well as those fans who are unashamed heavy consumers of pies and ale. Because of this, many chose to go one up from their usual replica shirt size.