Salford City fans have backed a return to their traditional orange kit in an overwhelming vote. The club will switch back to their historic colours for next season, 12 years after the controversial switch to red.
Salford’s adoption of red came when a group of former Manchester United players – Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Ryan Giggs – purchased the non-league outfit alongside Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim. The move sparked fury amongst supporters at the time, with fans chanting “We are Tangerine” during several fixtures amid speculation about the impending transformation.
Some loyalists even boycotted the opening match under the new regime in protest at the kit colour decision. David Beckham joined the ownership in 2019 after purchasing 10 per cent of Lim’s shareholding, whilst Gary Neville had secured the businessman’s stake 12 months prior.
The duo completed a buyout of their former Old Trafford colleagues in May. They now lead a fresh ownership structure, which includes businessman Declan Kelly and former banker Lord Mervyn Davies.
Neville is now undoing one of the initial choices made over a decade ago, and it might not go down well with some of their fans. A staggering 77.1 per cent of supporters backed the transformation following a heritage consultation exercise.
The club has confirmed that “significant work is to be undertaken at the Peninsula Stadium to update cladding and seats, among other infrastructure upgrades that are already due to take place” ahead of the new campaign.
They further stated that “this landmark choice will evolve the Club into a bold, new era by combining our tangerine heritage with modern style to create a striking orange identity”.
Salford also announced that “a further consultation with supporters will take place about the Club crest”.