UMBRO

Umbro is a British sportswear and equipment supplier based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. The company is now part of Nike. Umbro designs, sources, and markets sport-related apparel, footwear, and equipment. Its products are sold in over 90 countries worldwide.

Umbro are the current suppliers of sports apparel to the England national football team, The Football Association, and the FA Cup.

SPONERING:
Umbro has produced kits for many notable football teams since establishment. Its first kit was produced in 1934, for Manchester City, who won the FA Cup that year.

Over the years since, Umbro has produced kits for numerous professional teams around the world, as well as referee kits for some leagues. As of 4 June 2009, Umbro are now, once again, kit suppliers to Manchester City in a ten year sponsorship deal rumoured to be worth £50 million.

In addition to club teams, Umbro also produced playing kits for a variety of international teams worldwide. During the 1966 FIFA World Cup, all but one of the 16 participating teams wore Umbro kits. The England national team wore Umbro shirts by choice until 1974, until the Football Association, encouraged by the England manager Don Revie, sold the jersey manufacturing rights to Admiral. In 1982 the FA returned to Umbro as England jersey manufacturers and they have remained so ever since.

However, their comparative size has meant that Umbro has suffered in recent years, with many of the big clubs it provided for now choosing to accept higher financial bids for shirt manufacture contracts from the 'big two' of Nike and Adidas (notably including Celtic, Manchester United, Ajax, and Chelsea. In addition to this, Puma has vastly increased its participation in football and now provide many national teams with kits, particularly on the African continent. However, Umbro still managed to retain its long-standing partnership with The FA and, often in cooperation with JJB Sports, gained new contracts for a number of clubs in recent years, including Rangers and several other Welsh, English and Scottish clubs. They have recently renewed its deal with Birmingham City.

Umbro is currently the official sports manufacturer of the English FA Cup and official sponsor of the new Wembley Stadium. Umbro will partner The FA in the further development of the National Football Centre (NFC) at Burton-upon-Trent, becoming the title sponsor of the Centre. Umbro is also the exclusive supplier of footballs to The FA.

Umbro has also manufactured kits for Rugby Union (the Irish National team and London Irish), Athletics and rugby league.

Umbro now has an exclusive clothing range with House of Fraser.

Type -Subsidiary of Nike
Industry -Textile
Founded -1924 in Wilmslow
Headquarters -Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England
Products-Football Footwear
Website http://www.umbro.com