Getting a team's kit personalised well comes down to a handful of decisions made before anything goes to print: name and number placement, font and colour, sizing across a squad, and what to do if you don't have an official club crest. This guide covers each one, so your personalised football kit order comes back right the first time.
Where names and numbers go
Most shirts follow the same layout: the squad number sits large on the centre back, with the player's name printed in a curved or straight bar directly above it. A smaller number is often repeated on the front, usually centred on the chest or to one side if there's already a sponsor logo there. If your shirt has a v-neck or unusual collar, the name bar may need to sit slightly lower to clear the seam — send us a photo of the shirt and we'll adjust the layout in your proof rather than guessing.
Choosing a font and colour
- Match your kit colours: white or light-coloured print on dark shirts, dark print (often black or navy) on white or light shirts, is the safest default for legibility from a distance.
- Block numerals are the standard choice for readability during a match — stylised or script fonts can look good up close but are harder to read at a distance, which matters if numbers are being called out by a coach or ref.
- Outline or drop-shadow effects can help a name/number stand out against a busy or patterned shirt design — we'll suggest this in your proof if your kit has a print or texture.
Sizing a whole squad
The biggest cause of delay on team orders isn't the printing — it's incomplete size information. The smoothest way to send us a squad order is a simple list: player name, number, and size, one line per player. If you're not sure of a child's size, our size range runs Kids 3-4 through 12-13, then Adult S through XXL — UK high-street sizing, so a normal school-age reference (e.g. "usually a 9-11") is enough for us to work from. If a few players are unsure, order can go ahead for the confirmed sizes and we'll hold the rest until you confirm — just flag it when you message us.
Club crests, badges and sponsor text
We can't print an official club crest, a licensed competition badge, or another club's kit design without permission from the rights holder — this protects you as much as us, since using someone else's registered mark without a licence can create problems for the team down the line. What we do instead:
- Design a simple custom badge using your team's initials, colours and a shape of your choice (shield, circle, crest-style)
- Print sponsor names or text exactly as supplied — just send us the wording and any logo you have permission to use
- Match an existing badge you already own the rights to, if you send us a clear photo or file
Printing onto your own shirts vs ordering blank kit
Both options go through the same design and proofing process. If you're sending your own shirts, post them to us or drop them at our East London E14 collection point along with your list — we'll print and return the same shirts. If you'd rather we supply the shirts, tell us the sizes and we'll print and despatch the whole set as one parcel, which is usually simpler for a coach or parent coordinator handing kit out on one day.
What we need from you to get a proof right first time
- A player list: name, number, size
- Your kit colours (or the shirts themselves, if you're sending them)
- Any badge, sponsor text or logo you'd like included, and confirmation you have the right to use it
- Your deadline, if you have one — we'll tell you honestly whether we can hit it
From there we'll send a free design proof showing the full layout before anything is printed, and revise it until you're happy — see the full process on our personalised football kit printing page.
How the print itself holds up
We print using DTF (direct-to-film) transfer rather than vinyl or basic heat-press, which is designed to flex with the fabric and resist cracking or peeling through regular match washing. If you're comparing print methods, our DTF vs screen printing vs DTG guide covers how the options differ for sportswear specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Can you match a font we've already used in the past?
Usually, yes — send us a photo of a previous shirt and we'll match the style as closely as possible.
What if some players' sizes aren't confirmed yet?
Send us what you have and flag the gaps — we can proceed with confirmed sizes and hold the rest until you're ready.
Can you print a sponsor logo we don't have the rights to?
No — we can only print logos, crests or designs you have permission to use. We're happy to design an alternative if needed.
Do you charge extra for squad numbering?
Message us with your player list and we'll quote based on the full order — there's no separate numbering fee beyond the standard print cost.
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