Racing Lens Football Shirts & Kits

The Story of Racing Club de Lens Kits

Few clubs in Europe have colours as instantly recognisable as Lens. The vivid red and yellow combination reflects the warmth and pride of the region’s mining communities — bright hues that stood out against the dark pit landscapes where the club’s support was born. The nickname Les Sang et Or (“The Blood and Gold”) captures both the colour scheme and the spirit of the supporters.

The home shirt’s stripes have varied through the decades — sometimes vertical, sometimes diagonal, occasionally broad or narrow — but the colour identity has never changed. The design is as much about culture as football: a living tribute to the strength and solidarity of northern France.

Kit Evolution and Brand Heritage

In the club’s earliest years, Lens wore plain green shirts before adopting red and gold in 1924 to represent the city’s Spanish influence — the colours of the old regional flag of Artois and of Spain, where several founding members’ families had roots.

From the 1970s onward, major kit manufacturers brought a modern touch. Le Coq Sportif, Umbro, and Nike each introduced contemporary takes on the traditional stripes, while local French brand Uhlsport later delivered minimalist editions cherished by collectors. In recent seasons, Puma has produced sharp, athletic designs that balance heritage and innovation.

Away kits often feature white, black, or gold — a contrast to the vivid home strip — while third shirts sometimes explore the region’s coal-mining past with darker palettes and textured detailing.

Famous Racing Lens Shirts

• 1997/98 Home Shirt – worn when Lens claimed their first and only Ligue 1 title, remembered for its thick red-and-yellow bands and the sponsor “Auchan.”

• 1998/99 Champions League Shirt – featuring subtler stripes and classic Umbro detailing, worn during Lens’s famous 1-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley.

• 2020/21 Home Shirt – marking the club’s celebrated return to Ligue 1, blending heritage stripes with a modern cut.

• 2023/24 Home Shirt – a balanced red body with gold gradient sleeves, symbolising the blend of tradition and ambition in modern Lens.

Little-Known Facts About Racing Lens Kits

• Spanish inspiration: The red-and-gold colours were chosen to honour Spanish immigrants who helped build the region’s workforce in the early 20th century.

• Mining tribute kits: Several special-edition shirts have included subtle charcoal textures or matte finishes symbolising coal dust — a nod to the city’s mining past.

• Alternate era: In the 1950s, Lens briefly switched to all-blue kits, but fan backlash brought the club swiftly back to red and yellow.

• Crest evolution: The club crest has included the local beffroi (belfry) tower since 1955, representing Lens’s civic pride.

• Loyal manufacturers: Le Coq Sportif was so intertwined with Lens that for years it produced exclusive patterns not shared with any other French club.

• Fans and fabric: Supporters’ groups have occasionally influenced shirt design — the 2016/17 home shirt was voted for directly by fans via an online poll.

• Slogan inside the collar: Many recent kits feature the words “Les Sang et Or – Notre Force” printed discreetly inside the neckline as a hidden rallying cry.

Our Range and Personalisation Options

At UK Soccer Shop, you’ll find the full Racing Club de Lens collection — official home, away, and third shirts, plus training wear and retro editions. Each jersey is 100% authentic, made with the same detailing worn by the players.

Personalisation is available across most shirts, allowing you to add your name or that of club heroes past and present. We also stock Ligue 1 shirts from rival clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, and Lille, so you can complete your French football line-up.