To order custom football kits for a club, agree your design and squad details internally, send a manufacturer a complete specification and quantity, approve artwork and a sample, then confirm sizes and names before production begins. Most delays and errors come from missing information at the start, so the process below focuses on what to prepare.

A standard kit is a jersey, shorts and socks. Many clubs also order goalkeeper kits, training tops, warm-up jackets and travel wear. Under the Laws of the Game, players wear a shirt, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear as separate items, and goalkeepers wear colours that distinguish them from other players and officials, so kit design needs to account for the competition’s colour rules. See the IFAB Laws of the Game for the governing framework, and check your own league’s regulations as well. Before speaking to a manufacturer, settle:

• number of players, and how many teams or age groups
• home, away and goalkeeper colours
• kit pieces required
• sponsor logos and where they sit
• who approves the final design
• deadline for stock, such as season start or tournament date

Unclear sign-off is a common cause of late changes, so name one decision-maker.

• Club crest: supply vector artwork. Decide whether it is printed, embroidered or part of the sublimated design.
• Sponsor branding: confirm sponsor artwork, size and placement with the sponsor and your league rules before sending to the manufacturer.
• Player names and numbers: supply a name list with size per player. Check whether names and numbers are included in the sublimation run or applied separately, and ensure number sizes meet competition rules.
• Colours: give Pantone references where possible and ask for a physical sample for key shades.

Sublimated football kits carry the design in the fabric through dye-sublimation, which suits stripes, gradients, patterns and all-over graphics. It works on polyester fabrics. Some clubs prefer cut-and-sew construction with panelled colours for simpler designs. Neither is universally better; our comparison of sublimation vs cut and sew sets out the trade-offs. Gather sizes from players rather than estimating, and use the manufacturer’s size chart. Youth and adult sizes differ, and growing academies may want spare sizes. Consider ordering a small sample set across sizes for players to try before the full run. Clarify how size changes are handled after approval, because changes near production can delay delivery. Minimums depend on the manufacturer, fabric and design. A club with several age groups should ask whether different teams’ kits can be combined to reach one minimum, and whether the MOQ applies per design, size or order. Royal Bull will confirm MOQ during quotation for your specific order. Request a sample kit in the real fabric and print method. Check colour accuracy, crest placement, fit and stitching. Ask what happens if revisions are needed and how sample approval triggers production. Football kit lead time is the sum of several stages: artwork approval, sampling, fabric sourcing, printing, cutting and sewing, inspection and shipping. It varies by manufacturer and order size, and no timeline should be assumed before the specification is confirmed. Work backwards from your first match or tournament and add buffer for changes.

Item	Detail
Quantity	Total kits and breakdown by team or age group
Pieces	Jersey, shorts, socks, goalkeeper kit, other
Design files	Vector crest, sponsor logos, design mock-up or brief
Colours	Pantone references or reference samples
Names and numbers	Spreadsheet listing name, number and size per player
Sizing	Size chart choice and size split
Delivery	Destination and required date

Send one message with the information above, including your quantity range and deadline. Ask the quotation to state fabric specification, print method, sample terms, lead time, packaging and payment terms separately, so you can compare suppliers like for like. A smooth football kit order depends on a clear brief, complete design files, accurate size and name lists, and enough time for sampling. Clubs that prepare these inputs usually get more accurate quotations and fewer late changes. For football clubs, academies and team managers planning a custom bulk order, Royal Bull can discuss product specifications, branding requirements and production needs as part of the quotation process. See the football uniforms range and request a quote.