Ever since the fateful evening that Greenville Pro Soccer became Greenville Triumph SC, I have been dreaming about what the city’s newest soccer team would look like when they step on the field for the first time next March.

No, I am not talking about who the players will be, where the team will play, or even what it will be like to watch John Harkes coach the very first game.

I just want to see the kits.

That’s right. I, Chris Ashley, am a self-professed kitophile. Okay, so maybe that is not a real word, but it perfectly describes my excitement to see new kits from my favorite teams year after year. That excitement is only amplified when it is a brand-new team without any precedent to build upon.

What is one to do when he has no idea what direction this team may go with their uniforms? I took a complete stab in the dark and picked out things I really liked.

One thing to notice as you check out these concepts: every shirt sponsor is a company with a local Greenville presence. Well, except for Triumph Motorcycles, but that was just too juicy to pass up.

So without further adieu, here are a few ideas for the first-ever kit for Greenville Triumph SC.

The Green Kit [Primary]

Undoubtedly, the green kit for the Triumph will be their primary look. It will be the thing that most fans associate with this team. They have a chance to establish a unique identity within the professional soccer landscape in America with this look.

While the color scheme is very similar to that of the Seattle Sounders, the Triumph should not merely settle for emulating past looks of that squad. Instead, they should look to the city that has given them life for inspiration.

The Cherokee: Greenville’s roots are similar to many around this part of the Carolinas in that its earliest inhabitants were Native Americans; Cherokees to be exact. This kit pays homage to those first Greenvillians and links the past to the present and beyond.

Textile Town USA: Perhaps the most prominent thing that Greenville has been known for throughout its history is for being the “Textile capital of the world.” The remnants of the mill villages are still scattered throughout the city and many are being repurposed as high-demand condos and business spaces. The gingham pattern serves as a nod to the many textiles produced by the city in its past.

The Checkerboard: I have to admit, this pattern is a little self-serving. As a Tennessee Volunteers fan, I am a sucker for checkerboards. However, it does have a tie in with the vast automotive industry that is constantly growing in Greenville.

The Gradient: This kit may seem simplistic on the surface, but when you look closely, you will see that it mirrors the gradient green featured on the team’s crest. The synergy of this kit to the brand makes it a strong contender.

The Blue Kit [Secondary]

Sash Stripes: If I am being honest, I hate sashes on soccer kits. That being said, I do not mind this as a cross between a sash and horizontal stripes. The light blue on these secondary kits actually comes from the river on the crest.

The Mountains: Once again looking to the crest for inspiration, this kit has a subtle mountainous pattern that also plays into the gradient design as well.

Straight Plaid: Ok. I realize this one hurts your eyes. It hurts mine too. But this is a secondary alternative to the textile-inspired kit.

The Chevron: This kit also gives a subtle nod to the mountains with the chevron pattern on the lower have of the jersey. The green bar brings in more green than any of the other blue kits and the solid navy top really establishes that secondary color.

The Alternate Kit [Training Kit or Third Kit]

The Cross: This design actually plays quite a bit into Greenville’s history. Greenville was the original home to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The names of many of those professors are still present as street names all through downtown.

Additionally, Greenville is home to Bob Jones University and Furman University which were both established an institutions of higher Christian education.

Vertical Stripes: Vertical stripes are certainly not new in soccer. They can be found in nearly every league around the world. If the Triumph wanted to go the route of vertical stripes, I would hope they would pursue a design that would set them apart a little. This design does that by pairing wide stripes with pin stripes on either side.

The Bar: This design is clean and simple. It manages to be predominantly gray as an alternate kit, but also utilizes plenty of green and blue so that it firmly aligns itself with the team who is wearing it.

Horizontal Stripes, but Not: Much like vertical stripes, horizontal stripes (or hoops) are common throughout the world. I love that this design take the idea of horizontal stripes and uses it in a less obvious way.

My Picks

I know none of these kit designs are real, and some of them are quite busy. But If I had to choose a lineup from the twelve above, I would use the following:

Primary Kit: The Checkerboard

Secondary Kit: The Mountains

Alternate Kit: The Cross

What about you? What would you want the first set of Triumph kits to look like? Whatever designs they ultimately land on, I’ll be sure to get my hands on all of them.