Blackburn Rovers’ Special Kit Has A Hidden Maltese Link | Lovin Malta

There are football shirts and then there are shirts that carry history in their seams. To mark 150 years since their foundation, Blackburn Rovers have unveiled an ultra limited anniversary…

There are football shirts and then there are shirts that carry history in their seams. To mark 150 years since their foundation, Blackburn Rovers have unveiled an ultra limited anniversary shirt that is far more than a kit. It is a statement of identity rooted in the club’s very first recorded moments.

The heart of the design dates back to 15th November 1875, when Blackburn Rovers held their first recorded meeting. The minutes of that meeting include a line that would define the club’s visual identity for generations:

“That a Maltese cross be on the left breast in blue.”
Proposed by W. Baguley and seconded by A. Constantine.

That decision now lives again on the shirt, with the blue Maltese cross placed proudly over the left breast as a direct link between the modern club and its founders.

To honour those origins, the anniversary shirt was photographed at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, a location deeply connected to the club’s earliest days. Founding member J. T. Syckelmoore was a master at the school and is believed to have recruited several early players from its pupils. The photoshoot recreates an image from the 1883–84 season, not as a gimmick but as a reflection of continuity, the same club, values and pride carried forward nearly 150 years.

The shirt is also woven with achievement. From six FA Cup wins that established Blackburn as one of football’s early powerhouses to the unforgettable Premier League title in the 1994–95 season and League Cup success, the design carries chapters of triumph earned through skill and hard work. These honours are not just trophies. They are shared memories passed down through generations of supporters.

In keeping with its significance, the anniversary shirt has been produced in extremely limited numbers with carefully managed sales to ensure fairness. Rare by design and rich in meaning, this is not simply an anniversary kit. It is Blackburn Rovers telling their story in fabric, thread and symbol.

Football fans… did you spot the Maltese cross?

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