WARM & WONDERFUL X AFC WIMBLEDON “BLACK SHEEP” UMBRO JERSEY

“It’s a weird and wonderful world if you come from Wimbledon!”

Heritage British knitwear brand Warm & Wonderful — creators of the iconic “Black Sheep” sweater famously worn by Princess Diana — are partnering with League Two football team AFC Wimbledon to create a special one-off kit featuring the brand’s iconic “Black Sheep” motif. 

The limited-edition jersey, made by Umbro, will be worn during warmups prior to the club’s match against Harrogate Town on March 29, with a stripped-back version worn during the game to meet Football League rules. 100% of net proceeds from the jerseys — both from retail sales and a post-match auction of the match-worn kits — will be donated to War Child, a charitable organization that protects, educates, and stands up for the rights of children in war, and to AFC Wimbledon’s own charitable foundation.

The partnership is fitting, as AFC Wimbledon might be considered the “black sheep” of English football — from the “Crazy Gang” era of the ‘80s and ‘90s, when the club was known for its boisterous style and idiosyncratic traditions, to the 21st century, when, having had their club taken away, the Wimbledon fans audaciously resurrected it from scratch, earning six promotions in 13 seasons.

When Wimbledon FC won the FA Cup final against Liverpool in 1988, a David-and-Goliath upset, commentator John Motson declared, “It’s a weird and wonderful world if you come from Wimbledon,” as club captain David Beasant received the trophy from none other than Princess Diana herself.

THE KITS ARE A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH IDENTITY, ENCOMPASSING EVERYTHING FROM THE COUNTRY’S LOVE OF FOOTBALL AND RUSTIC KNITWEAR TO ITS SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SENSE OF HUMOR

The design is a result of a close collaboration between Warm & Wonderful founders Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, who first created the iconic “Black Sheep” motif in 1979; Rowing Blazers founder and creative director Jack Carlson, who helped bring Warm & Wonderful back into business in 2019; and AFC Wimbledon Branding and Digital Transformation Lead Marc Jones, who was instrumental in the club’s reformation in 2002. The kits are a celebration of British identity, encompassing everything from the country’s love of football and rustic knitwear to its spirit of community, independence, and sense of humor.

The kit was photographed on location by Louis Bever at Cherry Red Records Stadium, the club’s home pitch in London, and the shoot features members of both the men’s and women’s clubs along with former captain David Beasant and AFC Wimbledon fan Phil Dunster of Ted Lasso fame.