Bohemians have released yet another cracking effort, with O'Neills today unveiling the club's third kit for this season's FAI Cup. The Bohs jersey design is inspired by the design of the seats on Dublin Bus, one of the club's sponsors.
It's yet another audacious design from Bohs, who already have a Bob Marley-inspired kit to their name this year.
It is not, however, the first of its kind. Other clubs - whether intentionally or not - have had "bus seat" designs in the past. Some of them have been hits...some not so much.
The genre of "bus seat jerseys" has seen something of an explosion in recent years. Inspired by the release of the new Bohs kit, we've had a look back at some recent classics of the genre.
Bohs jersey: The classics of the "bus seat" genre
Bohemians 2022 cup kit
We'll start with the newest one on the list from Dublin side Bohemians. Bohs have released the below kit in partnership with Dublin Bus, and will wear the kit in the FAI Cup this season.
In a nice touch, 10% of the profits from the new Bohs jersey will go to LGBT charities in Ireland.
Leeds away kit 2018/19
This Leeds kit certainly split opinion at the time. Its design seemed to unintentionally echo the designs of British bus seats, something that didn't go down well with some Leeds fans.
👀 | We take a closer look at the new #LUFC 2018/19 Away Kit... pic.twitter.com/Ex1NwZA9zh
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 9, 2018
It went with a darker colour scheme, and the patterns weren't as all-encompassing as those on the Bohs kit, but it did very much echo the "bus seat" design.
Though it was unpopular at the time, we wouldn't be surprised to see this one become a bit of a cult classic.
Arsenal training kit 2021/22
We hear you, we hear you - this wasn't a bus seat design. It was, however, one of the few designs that has worn the "inspired by public transport" badge proudly on its sleeve.
The London Underground's Piccadilly line has a stop at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and, to mark this, the Gunners released a limited edition kit earlier this year based on the seat designs on the Piccadilly line.
✊ Representing The Arsenal
🏟 The only London club to have a station named after it
Our latest collaboration with @TFL celebrates our history with the London Underground— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2022
The use of the Piccadilly line specifically is a nice touch, and we have to say that this jersey is an absolute knockout.
It's just a shame Arsenal released another 457 commemorative kits during the past season and it got lost in the chaos of it all.
Chelsea home kit 2019/20
Chelsea's home kit for their only full season under Frank Lampard management bore more than a minor resemblance to the designs of bus seats - though the club, and kit designer Nike, claimed that the jersey was actually inspired by their home stadium of Stamford Bridge.
Someone say Chelsea's new home Jersey looks like BRT buses seat cover which makes it easier for them to pack the bus next season. 😂😁🚌 pic.twitter.com/MtUO1LAwmR
— MeeMax (@MeedayPk) May 3, 2019
Perhaps the funniest part of Chelsea releasing their "definitely not a bus seat" design in 2019 was that the previous season's kit had been bemoaned by some fans for that exact reason.
Bus seats pattern, what a great job nike
— H. Fauzi (@RadenMas_Blues) May 11, 2018
Birmingham City home kit 1992/93
A jump back in time here to the year that football was invented (or at least that's what we've been led to believe).
Birmingham didn't take part in the first Premier League season, instead competing in the First Division, where they sported this rather eye-catching home kit.
Shit Kit Gallery - Birmingham City 1992/93 pic.twitter.com/R37EwO6phh
— Fussball Geekz (@philharrison192) April 16, 2021
We have to say, it's hard not to be taken by the design, as garish as it is. It doesn't make quite as much use use of the light blue colour scheme as the Bohs kit, though.
Norwich City home kit 1993/94
This kit is perhaps best remembered for being worn in the Olympiastadion when Norwich famously defeated Bayern Munich in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup. It's also an absolute belter.
Norwich are the only British side to beat Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium, reaching the third round of the UEFA Cup in 1993–94. #ncfc pic.twitter.com/mu9fSGv8KK
— ITZOO (@LaptopsPCsUK) August 18, 2017
Manchester United home kit 2020/21
Another non-blue kit on this list, Man United's effort from last season subtly echoes the patterns of bus seats, with the yellow and black flecks across the jersey. It perhaps gives us an idea of what Bohs' kits would have looked like if they went for their traditional red and black colourway.
Introducing Manchester United's 2020/21 home kit pic.twitter.com/Ka2ylyjMNA
— utdreport (@utdreport) August 4, 2020
Perhaps adidas actually listened to some of the criticism of the design - and the even wilder leaks. They chose to reveal United's away kit that season through a photoshoot staged on a bus.
After months of us talking about the leaked home kit looking like a bus seat cover, they did the actual photo shoot for the away shirt on a bus?! 😂 pic.twitter.com/kgt3gmHBGU
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) August 13, 2020
Where does Bohs' 2022 cup kit rank against some of the above efforts?
SEE ALSO: A Short History Of Ireland In The UEFA U21 Championships
