Celtic: bring the Bumblebee kit back

By Euan Davidson

May 20, 2021

It’s not often that as a Celtic writer, the world just gives you a topic.

Sometimes, finding the real gems of stories can be quite an undertaking, as I’m sure anyone in the fan-led Media will tell you. So when something lands on your lap, it’s imperative to take advantage. And when we found out it was World Bee Day, it got us thinking.

Now, World Bee Day is a genuinely excellent cause. Without the wee guys, our planet would pack it in. According to the UN:

“Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.”

What does this have to do with Celtic? Well, in perhaps the most tenuous link of all time (and there’s stiff competition), after a disappointing season, the club need something for fans to get excited about. A new manager and Sporting Director await, and our “rebuild” will surely gather momentum. At the moment, though, there’s very little to really get pulses racing.

Therefore: bring back the Bumblebee away kit.

Not since 15-16 have the Bhoys truly had one of our favourite change designs. The yellow and black experiment of 18-19 was bold, made famous by Broony winning the title at Kilmarnock. But a bumblebee kit is was not. Adidas, a multi-billion pound company, should be taking notes.

Iconic: Willo Flood / (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Celtic need a bumblebee kit: it’s just that simple

Now, we’ve seen what Celtic’s away kit might look like. It’s a belter, no question, and we’ve already been spoiled to some excellent kits for 20-21. If anything, these kits deserved better.

There is room to do something innovative, though. Look at the rumoured Ajax Bob Marley top. Adidas are clearly in a mood to experiment, and for Celtic’s third uniform, the manufacturer would do well to revive a popular idea. First introduced in the 96-97, the “Bumblebee” was garish, unquestionably, but also an absolute classic.

Similar efforts in 09-10 and 11-12 were divisive, before New Balance brought the design back for 15-16. But that’s been quite a while – seemingly neither NB nor Adidas, as of yet, have thought to turn to the pollen-collecting legends for inspiration. But they should, especially in an era where classic shirts go for hundreds of pounds.

There’s also the potential for a charity angle here; what if some of the sales of the kit went to bee-related charities? It might sound daft (and maybe is), but we know how important the insects are from an ecological point of view. It might be the kind of thing supporters can get behind from an aesthetic, economical and environmental perspective.

So, go on Adidas. Do it. Get the bumblebee kit back in the rotation.

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