Football: Social media reacts as Spanish side debut bizarre uniform

Deportivo's strange new look. Photo / Twitter

Spanish fourth-tier side Club Deportivo Palencia have launched a bizarre new strip ahead of their presence in the play-offs, revealing a willingness to 'give their skin' in a bid to reach Segunda B.

In a daring move by the club that will no doubt catch the eye of their rivals, the Castilian outfit have recruited Juan Francisco Martin, the same designer behind the infamous tuxedo-themed kit worn by Spanish Second Division side Cultural Leonesa.

Martin was present as the striking new 'flesh-themed' jersey that will be worn during the play-offs was launched on Thursday, and the noise from social media since its unveiling has been deafening.

Palencia's kit supplier Kappa have left nothing to the imagination with their latest offering, which cannot be claimed to be a nod to the club's proud heritage, but the accompanying slogan 'We give you our skin' fits in with the side's determination to gain promotion this season.

The implicit message that the players will give their all in order to achieve promotion is designed in the hope that more observers will get behind the side for the clash away to Club Union Deportiva Santa Marta on Sunday.

Never before has a club worked with its kit supplier to project the human body in the design of a football strip, and the lowly Spanish club will hope their innovations off the pitch will translate into results in the coming days.

Palencia are assured of a play-off place heading into the final game of the regular season, with only one side from each of the Spanish football league's 18 divisions at fourth-tier level entering Segunda B's four groups.

The kit, which evokes a naked body, has got the entire Spanish media talking, drawing attention to the lower reaches of the Spanish game, and while the football pyramid in Spain remains complex, the strip has certainly achieved its goal of making ripples around the world.

late but, you know what, i'm into that Deportivo Palencia kit - looks like it's made out of parma ham. That's great. pic.twitter.com/Gaikxipp8k

— Sam Diss (@SamDiss) May 13, 2016

Spanish team Deportivo is this the best or worst football kit you seen designed by a biology student pic.twitter.com/BmqGmERRPP

— Masato Jones (@masato_jones) May 13, 2016

Palencia, who have won their last four games, traditionally play in purple and have also launched a goalkeeper strip in this colour, with both kits completed by black socks.
The club's supporters - and anyone else for that matter - can get their hands on this one-off set of shirts for the princely sum of €30 (around £24).