In pictures: Manchester City unveil their new 'half-and-half' away kit in tribute to Ardwick AFC and Gorton AFC

Black and dark charcoal halves represent former incarnations Ardwick who wore a similar kit in 1890/1 and Gorton who played in first ever recorded City kit in1884

Premier League runners-up Manchetser City have unveiled their new away kit for the 2013/14 season, with the half-black, half-dark charcoal kit a tribute to the former names of the club.

The team will play in the kit which is a tribute to "their rich history and the club’s founding fathers".

City were originally created as St Mark’s in 1880, before becoming Gorton AFC in 1884 when they wore the first recorded Manchester Cith kit, and then Ardwick AFC between 1887 and 1894.

Throughout the 1890/91 season, Ardwick wore an all black kit that has inspired this years version.

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The shirt features a grandfather collar, and following the launch of Manchester United's thick collared kits for this season, it seems 2013/14 will be remembered as the battle of the collars.

So far, the reaction has been hugely positive, with City fans flooding Twitter with messages of appreciation of the new design. It seems City may have scored an early goal in the battle of the kits.