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After pictures of what looked to be Everton’s third kit got leaked late yesterday, this morning the club has gone into damage control mode using the players’ social media accounts to highlight the features of the new kit.
Released last night by website Footy Headlines who have developed a track record for being accurate with their leaks, it showed a bold look with dark blue and purple stripes running down the front, while the back and sleeves were a solid navy. The shirt is trimmed with a fluorescent yellow, with the logos and texts also in the same bright colour.
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Starting this afternoon, with the internet already abuzz with chatter all day with news of the leaked pictures, Everton players have started releasing pictures on their personal social media accounts with the hashtag #TogetherOnwards.
This follows a common theme after the home kit was released with #TogetherBlue and the grey away number carrying #TogetherInspired.
Initial reactions from the fans seem mixed, with some fans thrilled by the almost-garish look while others were not pleased with the departure from tradition or more conventional looks.
Jumping on the bandwagon... here's our new third kit #TogetherOnwards pic.twitter.com/1FCGy5EOjM
— Mason Holgate (@MasonHolgateee) August 11, 2017
Has anyone not seen the third kit for this season yet?#TogetherOnwards pic.twitter.com/kNFo0ew1pu
— Jonjoe Kenny (@jonjoekenny8) August 11, 2017
I might be a bit late with this one but here's our new third kit #TogetherOnwards pic.twitter.com/4JKlGF7Bo6
— DCL (@CalvertLewin14) August 11, 2017
What is particularly odd about the social media posts above is that you can even see the yellow lines on the ground where the players were asked to stand when posing for the pictures with the new kit.
This really looks like the Everton PR department scrambling to organize a semi-official release announcement after the leaked pictures were already widely distributed, though the haphazard manner this is being carried out in is more than a little odd considering there has been no official announcement on the club’s website or official social media channels.