When it comes to kits, Umbro stands out but Asics is the best.

Kevin Dillon in the Pompey kit worn during the 1986-87 season

It’s the 1986-87 season, Pompey are gaining promotion to Division One and I’m watching Alan Ball’s ‘Gremlins’ in my first season at Fratton Park.

And how this impressionable youngster wanted to pull on the same royal blue shirt as his heroes.

The Umbro kit the Boys of ’87 wore remains one of the most iconic in the club’s history, with its ball, anchor and sword crest.

Sadly, for this eight-year-old it never found its way into his wardrobe.

The following campaign spawned a move to Admiral and their pin-striped effort.

It was a decent offering, no doubt, but Umbro and the new manufacturers were worlds apart to this nipper.

And the fact it didn’t have the rather slapdash effort of adding South Coast Fiat as sponsors, via a heavy white square of material, was glaring.

It’s easy to forget the significance of replica shirts to youngsters as the years pass.

And, let’s be honest, it’s not just the kids who dream of performing like their heroes once they have the star and crescent on their chest.

With retro looks stronger than ever, there’s an obvious crossover market for the fashion-conscious Blues fan.

You will have to part with £125 to get the home Umbro shirt worn by Kevin Dillon, Kennedy, Hilaire and Co nowadays.

Copies of the two white Umbro away shirts used between 1983 and 19867 remain popular.

After the Umbro classic, the ensuing years, for me, saw a decline in quality of manufacturer.

Admiral, Scoreline and Influence – although this spoilt brat had them all – didn’t reach the same heights.

But then came the Asics kit of 1993 – a classy affair worn by a classy team.

The home kit was impressive, but the red and black-halved away number remains my favourite changed shirt until this day.

In the years since there’s been some beauties – and absolute howlers.

Six years of Kappa and Canterbury produced some quality products.

The gold away effort of 2002-03 was adored and despised in equal measure.

You’ll go a long way to find anyone who was a fan of the dire orange and black ‘Bishop’s Printers’ number of 2000, though. Unless you find Express FM commentator, Dave Bowers, who was to blame for the horror show in a previous life as a Pompey employee.

And this season’s Sondico effort? Not bad. Put a winning team in it and it could be a classic.

Test your knowledge on previous Blues kits in our Know Your Pompey: Kit Special.