League One men’s football team Doncaster Rovers has revealed the railway-related story behind its new away kit.

The kit was launched on Friday (3 July) and is inspired by Mallard, the record-breaking locomotive that was built at Doncaster Works in 1938.

Mallard set the world speed record for a steam locomotive at 126 miles per hour on 3 July 1938, and the club picked the 88th anniversary of this historic run to launch the kit.

The team’s new away kit is finished in the rich blue colour that the locomotive was also finished in. It also includes similar fine black and gold detailing.

The hem carries the identity, ’36A’, the historic shed code which was stamped onto locomotives made in the South Yorkshire town.

Mallard’s own engine number is included on the inner neck tape, stitched in close to the badge. The locomotive’s original number was LNER No. 4468.

In 1946, it was briefly renumbered LNER No. 22. When the railways were nationalised in 1948, it became BR No. E22.

However, this was only temporary, and before the year was out, Mallard had its new number, BR No. 60022, which it carried until it retired in 1963.

This year, Doncaster is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed Mallard, with a series of events in the town.

“One engine. One town that never stopped being proud of it.

“This season, we take to the road wearing 36A, the historic shed code stamped onto Doncaster’s locomotives, marking them as ours, built here, belonging here. Now it belongs to us too. Every away day, every long trip down the motorway, every away end bouncing in someone else’s back yard, we carry it with us. That’s what 36A means. That’s what it’s always meant.

“From the Plant to the pitch. From Stoke Bank to away days up and down the country. Some records are never beaten. Some towns are never forgotten.

“Rovers away days this season are that.

“A gleaming streak of Garter blue, filling away ends up and down the country, voices roaring, belief trailing behind it like smoke. Rovers, made in Doncaster and built by Doncaster hands, weren’t just built to run. They were built to win.”

Doncaster Rovers Football Club