Last updated at 13:06, Monday, 13 August 2012

The sun was in my eyes. A dog ate my homework. The cheque’s in the post. The world has heard plenty of excuses. But few were as memorable as one from Sir Alex Ferguson in April 1996.

The green shirt

Football fans may recall a match at Southampton which saw Manchester United trailing 3-0 at half-time.

When they returned to the dressing room the manager’s first words were “Get that kit off – you’re getting changed”.

Ferguson blamed the team’s grey away strip, which he felt made it difficult for players to spot each other across the pitch.

Manchester United lost four and drew one of their five games in the grey kit.

After the Southampton match they never wore it again.

Reiver is mentioning this in light of Carlisle United’s new away strip, which has just been launched.

Research has shown that bright colours can make it easier for a player to see a team-mate in the split-second they have to make a pass.

So what about a shirt which is the same colour as the pitch?

Reiver fears that these green shirts will blend into the grass, giving the impression of disembodied heads floating above the pitch, making Carlisle players seem as if they’re wearing Harry Potter-style invisibility cloaks.

First published at 11:25, Monday, 13 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk