How to Order Personalized Football Shirts for Your Team: Names, Numbers and Logos
Ordering shirts for a whole team is a different job from personalizing one. With a single shirt, a mistake costs you one shirt. With a squad of sixteen, one wrong number can mean a goalkeeper in the wrong kit, two players with the same digit, or a surname spelt differently on the back than on the team sheet.
Most of these problems are easy to prevent if you plan the order properly. This guide walks you through it in the order you’ll need to make decisions: what to personalise, how to lay it out, which files to send, and what to check before anything goes near a heat press.
If you’re only after a quick answer: decide your layout first, collect names and numbers in a single spreadsheet, send your logos as high-quality files, and proofread the final list with at least one other person. Everything below explains how.
What Can You Personalise on a Football Shirt?
More than most people realise. A typical team order includes some combination of the following.
Player Names and Squad Numbers
The classic pairing: a surname (or nickname) across the upper back, with a number beneath it. Many teams also add a smaller number on the front or the shorts.
Before you start collecting names, decide which of these you want:
- Name and number on the back, the most common choice
- Number only, which suits fast, low-cost orders and younger teams
- Name only, popular for supporters’ shirts and fun kits
- Front number as an extra, often chest or sleeve
Team Logos, Badges and Sponsor Design
If your club has a crest or a local sponsor, now is the time to plan where it goes. The usual spots are the chest, the sleeve, or the back above the name. Keep in mind that each extra position needs its own correctly sized artwork, and that a busy shirt with five logos can look cluttered. Fewer, cleaner placements almost always look better.
If you’re unsure what’s realistic, our team can talk through placement before you commit. You can also see what’s on offer on our main football shirt and jersey printing page.
How to Choose the Right Name and Number Layout
Layout decisions are where teams often disagree, so it helps to settle them early and in one place.
Lettering Size and Placement
Two things matter: legibility and proportion.
- Legibility. Referees, coaches and spectators need to read the number from a distance. Simple, bold, block-style numbers are easier to read than ornate fonts.
- Proportion. A long surname such as “Featherstonehaugh” needs a smaller letter size than “Ali”. A good print shop will scale names so they fit the shirt width neatly, but you should agree how, rather than assuming.
A tip: ask whether your league specifies anything about number size or colour. Some competitions do for matches, so check with your league or club secretary before you design, particularly for adult competitive teams.
Matching the Design Across a Team
Consistency is what makes a squad look like a squad. Agree on:
- One font for names and one for numbers (they can be the same).
- One colour that contrasts clearly with the shirt. Light shirts need dark lettering and vice versa.
- One size convention for names, numbers and any front print.
- Whether goalkeepers differ. Keepers wear a different shirt colour, so they may need a different lettering colour to stay readable.
Writing these four decisions into your order sheet saves a lot of back-and-forth later.
Which Artwork Files Should You Prepare?
You don’t need design software to personalise names and numbers, because a clean list is enough. Logos are a different story, as they’re where file quality shows.
For team crests and sponsor logos, aim to supply:
- A vector file (.ai, .eps or .svg) if your club has one. These scale to any size without blurring.
- A high-resolution PNG with a transparent background as a second-best option.
- Colour references if your crest uses specific brand shades.
Please avoid sending a photo of a logo, a screenshot or a low-resolution image saved from social media. They’re the main reason badges come out fuzzy. Our guide to preparing print-ready artwork explains how to check a file in a minute, and it applies to apparel as much as paper.
If your sponsor sends you artwork, ask them for the original rather than the one in their email signature.
What to Check Before Printing a Full Team Order
This section is the one most worth bookmarking. A tidy order sheet prevents nearly every mistake we see.
Shirt Sizes and Quantity Lists
Build one spreadsheet with a row per player and these columns:
|
Squad no. |
Name on shirt |
Size |
Notes |
|
1 |
(surname) |
(size) |
(keeper, front number, etc.) |
Collect sizes from the players themselves, not from the person organising. Kids grow, adults guess wrongly, and sizing varies between shirt brands. If a shirt is being supplied by the player, check the fit before the day of printing.
Also decide how many spare shirts or numbers you want for new signings and substitutes. A couple of extra blanks is cheaper than a separate small order later.
Spelling, Numbering and Final Proofs
Run this checklist before you send the final list:
- Every number is unique. No two players share a number, and no number is missing from your match squad.
- Names are spelt exactly as the player wants them. Ask each player to confirm in writing, as a text message will do.
- Nicknames are agreed. If it’s a pub team, confirm the nickname is something the whole squad is happy to see in print.
- Capitals or lower case are decided. Most teams use capitals.
- Someone else has read it. Get a second person to check the list against the team sheet.
When your proof arrives, check it against that same list, line by line. It’s a few minutes of work, and it’s much cheaper than a reprint.
Can You Personalise a Single Football Shirt?
Yes. A single shirt is a very common order, whether it’s a birthday present, a leaving gift or a replacement for a lost kit. The process is simpler, but the same advice applies: confirm the spelling, choose a number and a colour that show up clearly on the fabric, and bring the shirt in if you’re supplying your own.
If you’re supplying an official club replica, ask us before you order. Different fabrics respond differently to heat, and some shirts need particular care. A quick conversation prevents a disappointment. You can find the options for single shirts and sets on our football shirts and jerseys range.
How Quickly Can Football Shirts Be Personalised?
It depends on the size of the order, whether you’re supplying the shirts or we are, and how complete your artwork and name list are. Small orders can sometimes be turned around quickly, but a full squad with several logo positions needs more time.
Three things speed it up:
- A finished name and number list (not “we’ll confirm the sizes later”)
- Print-ready logos supplied up front
- A decision-maker, one person who can approve the proof without waiting for a group chat
If you have a match or presentation evening coming up, tell us the date when you ask. We’ll let you know honestly what’s achievable. For urgent work, it’s best to contact the branch first and confirm availability.
For Clubs and Teams
Whether you run a Sunday-league side, a school team, a charity match or a five-a-side group, the same principles apply. If you manage an ongoing club, it helps to keep your last order sheet. Next season, you’ll only need to update the changes.
For wider requirements such as training tops, hoodies, polo shirts or club jackets, our custom apparel printing range covers the full set. If you’re based in Kent, our page on printing for sports clubs and teams in Dartford is also worth a look.
A Note for Local Supporters
Charlton is a football-minded corner of London, and we regularly hear from people who want a name on a favourite shirt for a match day or a gift. To be clear: Quick Printing is an independent business and has no affiliation with Charlton Athletic or any other club. We don’t supply official club merchandise or licensed products. What we do is add names, numbers and artwork to shirts you bring in or choose with us.
Because club crests and sponsor logos are often protected, we may ask you about permission for certain designs, so it’s best to check what you’re planning. If you’re unsure, just ask before you order.
Where to Arrange Team Shirt Personalisation in London and Kent
If you’re in Charlton, Woolwich or Greenwich, our Charlton branch at Woolwich Road, SE7, is the easiest place to bring a shirt, show your artwork and talk through lettering in person. Seeing the options first-hand makes layout decisions much easier, especially when several people are involved.
If you’re closer to Kent, our Dartford branch on Spital Street offers the same service for teams in Dartford and the surrounding area. Both branches are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
For a wider overview of what we do for football customers, our page on football shirt printing services in London is a good place to start.