Grassroots football clubs, Sunday league teams, rugby squads, and school PE departments all order team kit through our Putney shop. The printing requirements are usually the same: names and numbers on the back, a sponsor logo on the front, maybe a sleeve or shoulder patch. Here is how we handle it.
Vinyl is the standard for names and numbers
For personalised sports kit, we use heat-applied vinyl. It is:
- Durable under wash and heavy play
- Quick to produce (same day for small orders)
- Clean, sharp lines on text and numbers
- Compatible with polyester shirts
Each name and number is cut individually, weeded (removing the excess vinyl), and heat-pressed onto the shirt.
Typical kit structure
A football shirt usually has:
- Front: sponsor logo (or left breast club crest)
- Back: large number, player name above
- Sleeve: league or regional patch (optional)
Rugby shirts often add a back sleeve sponsor and a team nickname. Netball and hockey kits typically use smaller numbers and cleaner layouts.
Numbers sizing standard
| Sport | Back number height |
|---|---|
| Football | 23 to 30 cm |
| Rugby | 25 to 30 cm |
| Netball | 15 to 20 cm (bib panels vary) |
| Basketball | 20 to 25 cm |
| Cricket | 15 to 20 cm |
Names above numbers are typically 4 to 6 cm tall.
Pricing
For a 15-player squad with names, numbers, and a front sponsor:
- Names and numbers only (you supply shirts): £7 to £9 per shirt
- Shirts supplied plus printing: £22 to £35 per shirt depending on blank
- Sponsor logo front (vinyl): £4 to £6 per shirt
- Sleeve badge: £2 to £3 per shirt
Squad of 15, full kit (shirts + all printing): typically £450 to £600.
Lead time
- Just names and numbers: 2 to 4 working days (same day possible for up to 10)
- Full kit with shirts supplied: 5 to 7 working days
- Pre-season rush: book 3 weeks before first match
Squad list template
Send us the squad in a simple table:
| # | Name | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Smith | L |
| 9 | Kaur | M |
| 10 | Patel | XL |
Email as a spreadsheet or plain text. Double-check spellings; vinyl is applied once, not reprintable without re-ordering the shirt.
Common issues to avoid
- Long surnames: “WILKINSON-JONES” may not fit. Discuss early.
- Accented characters: we support them but confirm the exact spelling
- Duplicate numbers: common in youth teams, happens more than you think
- Wrong size: collect sizes with fitting shirts, not guesses
Replacing one or two shirts mid-season
A player joins, or a shirt gets damaged. We can produce replacements same day for small quantities, provided we have the shirt and the design reference. Keep a spare blank if the team is registered with a specific brand.
Sponsor logos
Sponsor logos are usually printed in one or two-colour vinyl. Supply the logo as a vector (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg) at the final print size. See our artwork preparation guide for the full spec.
If the sponsor logo is complex (photo-realistic or multi-colour), we switch to DTF printing for that element and keep vinyl for names and numbers. Cost per shirt goes up by £2 to £4.
Supplying your own shirts
You can source shirts from elsewhere (direct from manufacturer, club store, or specialist sports supplier) and just have them printed with us. This is common for teams with a long-term supplier relationship.
We charge print-only in that case. Bring the shirts with the squad list; turnaround is typically 2 to 4 working days for 15 to 25 units.
Book the kit now
Email [email protected] with your squad size, deadline, and rough spec. We will quote within 24 hours.
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