As one of the oldest operating professional clubs in the United States, the Charleston Battery had to celebrate their 30th anniversary (founded in 1993) with something special.
The club has entered a new era under the ownership of Rob Salvatore, highlighted by a move to Patriots Point Soccer Complex and the recent hiring of 2022 USL Championship Coach of the Year Ben Pirmann. These are exciting times for the Black and Yellow, and now the team has one of the year's best kits.
It's true that the stable of new MLS jerseys for 2023, collectively, are among the league's best ever, but due to strict design rules implemented by the league and Adidas, many of the jerseys' more subtle features come off better in the advertising copy than they do on the actual shirt (e.g. "The look symbolizes the diversity, history and beauty of the city" but its just a white shirt dumped in yellow paint).
That's certainly not the case with the new Charleston Battery jerseys, which are beautifully inspired by the city's rich history in the most ornate way. The architecture of Charleston is among the nation's most unique — the Georgian houses, the pastel-colors of Rainbow Row, the gas lanterns illuminating the streets — but one standout feature is the astonishing amount of ornamental wrought iron used in the gates, window grilles, balconies and verandas of the city.
The new Charleston Battery home kit fittingly includes a subtle iron gate design used within the black stripes and on the shoulders.
On the away kit, the iron gate pattern is placed within the sleeve ends and collar.
Here's Battery phenom Fidel Barajas wearing them. The 16-year-old recently helped Mexico claim the CONCACAF U-17 Championship while scoring three goals. He was born in Sacramento and is still very much on the USMNT's radar.
2023 Season… pic.twitter.com/aMfbnjVeGH
— Fidel Junior Barajas (@fideljr_barajas) March 6, 2023
It never hurts to have a badge designed by Matthew Wolff or to have Hummel as your kit supplier.
Inspired by our history. Dedicated to our future.
— Charleston Battery (@Chas_Battery) March 6, 2023
The scarf doesn't miss either.
You can shop the collection now at Charleston's online store (only $80 rather than spending $160 on an MLS authentic). The Battery begin the 2023 season on Saturday with their home opener against Phoenix Rising.
Shout-out to Rodney Scott's BBQ. I'll be over in a couple weeks.
