Scunthorpe United and Spanish sportswear brand Meyba have unveiled the club’s 2026-27 third kit, a predominantly dark green shirt presented at Glanford Park in partnership with local singer-songwriter Will Parker. The design has attracted attention not only for its colours and patterning but for an uncommon feature: a polo collar with a quarter-zip fastening.
Design, partners and presentation
The replica shirt carries a tonal repeating pattern across the front and back, with lime green trim on the collar, sleeve cuffs and side panels and Meyba’s characteristic shoulder track motif. The club crest appears in a two-tone treatment, while British Steel occupy front-of-shirt sponsorship in white beside their orange emblem.
- Primary colour: Dark green with tonal pattern
- Accent colour: Lime green
- Notable feature: Polo collar with quarter-zip
- Launch collaborators: Meyba and local musician Will Parker
The shirt was launched alongside the release of Mr Parker’s new song "Nobody Can Know" and he presented the kit at the ground. The quarter-zip collar is the first time a zipper has been incorporated into a Scunthorpe playing replica, according to the launch material.
Questions over player use and safety
The quarter-zip detail has prompted discussion because of the rules governing players’ equipment. IFAB’s Law 4, titled “The Players’ Equipment”, sets out that certain items are prohibited if they are dangerous. As the guidance notes:
"players are strictly forbidden from wearing anything that is dangerous to themselves or others."
Because zippers can include rigid plastic or metal parts, they are commonly regarded as potential hazards in heavy contact, aerial challenges or sliding tackles. The kit release did not specify whether the zip is a functional, exposed metal zip or a softer, covered fastener on replica shirts only, and neither the club nor Meyba offered further clarification at the time of publication.
That leaves two distinct possibilities: the quarter-zip may form part of the replica shirts sold to supporters — where stricter interpretations of match conduct rules do not apply — or the design may be intended across player-wear and retail ranges. If the fastening is present on shirts worn during matches, match officials and competition organisers would need to be satisfied it complies with IFAB guidance and any competition-specific regulations.
Context for supporters and the club
Scunthorpe United currently compete in the National League North and the kit launch is part of the club’s commercial and community activity ahead of the 2026-27 season. Local collaboration with an artist from Scunthorpe underlines the club’s community connections, while the new sponsor — British Steel — retains a prominent role on the chest.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Meyba |
| Primary colour | Dark green |
| Accent | Lime green |
| Notable feature | Quarter-zip polo collar |
For supporters, the arrival of a new third kit is often an opportunity to buy a fresh shirt and celebrate the club’s identity. But the presence of a zipper on any match-worn garment could force the club to make a decision: adjust the design for on-field use or risk having players prevented from wearing it if referees and competition administrators deem the fastening unacceptable.
At the time of this report, the club and kit maker had not issued a public statement clarifying whether the quarter-zip is intended only for replicas or also for the shirts supplied to the first team. Supporters and season-ticket holders will likely seek clarification in the coming days as retail availability and matchday kit choices become clearer.
Whatever the practical outcome, the launch has already sparked debate in Scunthorpe about innovation, safety and the balance between striking design and matchday practicality.
