Umbro

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Umbro is an English sports equipment manufacturer founded in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and based in Manchester. They specialise in football and rugby sportswear featuring their Double Diamond logo. Umbro products are sold in over 100 countries.[1]

The business was started by brothers Harold and Wallace Humphreys. The name is a portmanteau of um, from Humphreys, and bro from brothers.[2]

Since 2012, the marque is a subsidiary of American brand management company Iconix Brand Group.

History

Beginning and expansion

The business started in 1920 at the family's pub, once owned by the parents of Harold Humphreys and his brother Wallace, who founded Humphreys Brothers Limited in 1924, initially working out of a small cupboard in the pub before moving to a workshop in Wilmslow. Inspired by the rapidly growing interest in football witnessed nationwide. The company name was changed in 1924 to "Umbro" and is a quasi-portmanteau inspired by Humphreys Brothers Clothing.[2] Umbro's kit debut was in the 1934 FA Cup final, when both teams – Manchester City and Portsmouth – wore kits designed and manufactured by the company. Other notably successful teams supplied by Umbro during the 1930s and 40s were Sheffield United, Preston North End, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Blackpool.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 1952, the British team at the Summer Olympics wore Umbro kits, tailored for the needs of their individual sports. Umbro would supply kits for the British Olympics team for the next 20 years.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 1955, Umbro introduced their first replica football kit, the 'Sportswear Xmas Pack'. The kit, designed for young boys, included a matching shirt, shorts, and socks.[3]

In 1957, Umbro entered the tennis market, producing sports clothing in collaboration with player Ted Tinling. This collaboration extended for three decades. Another sportsman who collaborated with Umbro was Manchester United manager Matt Busby, in 1959.

File:Brasil - 1958.jpg
Brazil won its first World Cup in 1958 wearing Umbro kits

Brazil became the first FIFA World Cup champion to wear kits by Umbro in 1958. Two years later, Manchester United Scottish player Denis Law signed an exclusive agreement with the brand, becoming the first footballer to be sponsored by Umbro. The England national team won its only title in 1966 wearing kits by Umbro (the deal had been signed in 1954). Of the 16 teams that competed, 15 wore kit manufactured by Umbro,[4] the only exception being the USSR. By the late 1960s, 85% of British football teams wore kits manufactured by the company, including Celtic, the first British team to win a European Cup in 1967. Liverpool FC won the first four of their six European Cups while wearing Umbro kits, in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

After more than a decade wearing Admiral kits, the England national team signed with Umbro again in 1984. In 1986, Umbro began to manufacture its own football boots. The company added footballers Alan Shearer and Michael Owen to its list of sponsored athletes. In 1994, Brazil won its fourth FIFA World Cup title in the United States and club teams AFC Ajax (in 1995), and Manchester United (in 1999) obtained the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup, in Tokyo, all of them wearing Umbro kits.

Umbro was the official sports manufacturer of the English FA Cup and official sponsor of The FA, being the exclusive supplier of balls to the body's leagues.

In the United States, Umbro was the majority owner (94%) of United Soccer Leagues, the parent organisation for North America's lower division men's soccer (tiers two through four in the American Soccer Pyramid), and the second tier women's league (W-League) and youth league (Super Y-League).[5] During the 2009 USL First Division season, the Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Vancouver Whitecaps, Rochester Rhinos, Austin Aztex, and Puerto Rico Islanders all wore Umbro kits. During the 2012 USLPro season, the Dayton Dutch Lions wore Umbro.

In October 2007, JJB Sports bought a 10.1% stake in Umbro in a move to protect its stake in the market for England football shirts.[6]

Nike agreement

File:Umbro ball usl.jpg
Umbro Dynamis match ball used in the United Soccer League for the 2009–10 season[7]

On 23 October 2007, it was announced Umbro had agreed to be bought out by Nike in a deal worth Template:GBP, the equivalent of 193p per share. The Umbro board recommended to its shareholders they vote in favour of the approach, as it offered a very competitive price for the business. Umbro's share price at the time of the offer was close to 130p.[8] The deal was approved by regulators in December 2007 and concluded in February 2008.[9] With the objective of revitalising the brand, Umbro launched the "Tailored by England" lines. As of 4 June 2009, Umbro signed a deal with Manchester City to supply kits for the team. Wearing Umbro kits, Manchester City won their first major trophy in 34 years.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 2010, Umbro became sponsor of reformed American team New York Cosmos to be its exclusive kit supplier.[10]

In May 2012, Nike reported that they would be selling Umbro (along with Cole Haan) in order to focus on their sports brands, including Nike, Converse, Hurley and Air Jordan.[11] In September 2012, The FA announced that future England kits would be manufactured by Nike.[12][13]

Iconix Brand Group

In October 2012, Nike announced that it had agreed with Iconix Brand Group to sell Umbro for US$225 million.[14][15] The acquisition was completed in December 2012.[16]

In February 2014, it was announced that Umbro would supply Everton from the start of the 2014–15 football season.[17] This was the first new club announcement since Iconix Brand Group bought Umbro, and was followed by the announcement of similar deals with Hull City and French clubs Lens and Nantes. On 9 June 2014, Derby County announced that their kits for the 2014–15 season would be made by Umbro.

Later in 2014, Umbro announced deals to supply a number of teams, including the Serbia national football team, the Malawi national football team,[18] Vasco da Gama and Grêmio.[19]

In February 2015, Dutch Eredivisie champions PSV announced a new kit deal with Umbro, replacing PSV's previous deal with Nike, which had been in existence since 1994. The deal coincided with PSV's return to the UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence.[20]

In late April 2015, West Ham United announced a new five-year agreement with Umbro as the club's official technical partner. This agreement included creating a commemorative kit for the Hammers' final year in the historic Boleyn Ground.[21]

In early December 2015, German club 1. FC Nürnberg announced a long-term kit deal with Umbro as the club's official kit supplier, replacing Adidas.[22]

In May 2016, it was announced that Umbro had become the technical sponsor of Blackburn Rovers[23] in a five-year deal. It would also return to making AFC Bournemouth's kit after two occasions in the 1970s and 1980s for the 2017–18 season.

In June 2017, seven-time German champion FC Schalke 04 announced a five-year deal with Umbro, replacing Adidas after 55 years. Also in December 2017, Umbro announced a deal with the Jamaica national team.[24]

In Europe, Iconix holds a brand licensing agreement with Scottish company GL Dameck Ltd to produce Umbro clothing and products. On 25 March 2024, it was reported that GL Dameck had sublicensed the Umbro brand to Manchester based Castore, the latter became the sole licensee for Umbro Professional Team Sports apparel, enabling them to distribute the Umbro brand across several key European markets.[25]

Products

Umbro currently focuses on football and rugby union equipment, with products such as kit (jerseys, shorts and socks), and boots, as well as manufacturing other clothing such as t-shirts and jackets.[26]

Until the mid-1980s, the company manufactured only sports clothing, in particular football jerseys, shorts and socks, but had no footwear range. Eventually, in 1985, Umbro decided to introduce its first football boot into the Brazilian market. This design, cheaper than the products of existing boot brands such as Adidas, proved popular and went into mass production internationally two years later.

Umbro also manufactured a popular style of shorts that reached its peak in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They were made of nylon, had a drawstring waistband, and often came in bright colours. With the growth of youth soccer leagues in the U.S. in the 1980s, many youths, teens and young adults began wearing them as everyday clothing. At the height of the "Umbro fashion," other brands of football shorts, such as Adidas, Diadora, Hummel, Lotto and Mitre, also became popular. Its major competitors in this market include Reebok, Nike, Adidas, Puma and Lotto.

Other releases by Umbro include the Stealth boot,[27] released in 2010 and worn by players such as Gaël Clichy and Phil Jagielka. The same year, the company released the GT, worn by then-Fulham striker Darren Bent. The company announced it as its lightest ever boot. This was succeeded by the GT II model.[28] June 2011 saw the release of the Umbro Geometra Pro.[29] In 2013, Umbro introduced to a new wave of releases that included the Speciali IV and the Geometra II.[30]

Following the purchase of the brand by Iconix Brand Group in 2013, the first major product release from Umbro was the UX-1,[31] a technologically advanced football boot which was voted as one of the best new releases of the year.[32]

Sponsorships

Association Football

Africa

National Teams

| alias = Democratic Republic of the Congo | shortname alias = DR Congo | flag alias = Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg | flag alias-1960 = Flag of the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960–1963).svg | flag alias-1963 = Flag of the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1963–1966).svg | flag alias-1966 = Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1966–1971).svg | flag alias-1997 = Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–2003).svg | flag alias-2003 = Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003–2006).svg | link alias-army = Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | link alias-naval = Navy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | link alias-air force = Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | link alias-navy = Navy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | link alias-military = Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football | variant =

}}

| alias = Eswatini | flag alias = Flag of Eswatini.svg | flag alias-1890 = Flag of Swaziland (c. 1890-1894).svg | flag alias-1894 = Flag of Swaziland (1894–1902).svg | flag alias-1968 = Flag of Swaziland (1968–2011).svg | link alias-military = Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force | link alias-army = Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force|Eswatini Army | link alias-air force = Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force|Eswatini Air Force | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant = | shortname alias = Eswatini | altvar = football

}}

| alias = Madagascar | flag alias = Flag of Madagascar.svg | flag alias-1896 = Flag of France.svg | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =

}}

| alias = Sierra Leone | flag alias = Flag of Sierra Leone.svg | flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sierra Leone.svg | flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sierra Leone.svg | link alias-military = Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =

}}

Club Teams

North and Central America

National Teams

| alias = El Salvador | flag alias = Flag of El Salvador.svg | flag alias-1822 = Flag of El Salvador (1822–1865).svg | flag alias-1823 = Flag of the United Provinces of Central America.svg | flag alias-1824 = Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg | flag alias-1839 = Flag of El Salvador (1822–1865).svg | flag alias-1865a = Flag of El Salvador (April 1865).svg | flag alias-1865b = Flag of El Salvador (June 1865).svg | flag alias-1869 = Flag of El Salvador (1869-1873).svg | flag alias-1873 = Flag of El Salvador (1873-1875).svg | flag alias-1875 = Flag of El Salvador (1875-1877).svg | flag alias-1898 = Flag of the Greater Republic of Central America (1898).svg | flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of El Salvador.svg | flag alias-army = Flag of the Salvadoran Army.svg | link alias-army = Salvadoran Army | flag alias-navy = Flag of the Navy of El Salvador.svg | link alias-navy = Navy of El Salvador | flag alias-naval = Flag of the Navy of El Salvador.svg | link alias-naval = Navy of El Salvador | flag alias-air force = Flag of the Salvadoran Air Force.svg | link alias-air force = Salvadoran Air Force | flag alias-military = Flag of the Armed Forces of El Salvador.svg | link alias-military = Armed Forces of El Salvador | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =

}}

| alias = Guatemala | flag alias = Flag of Guatemala.svg | flag alias-1825 = Flag of Guatemala (1825-1838).svg | flag alias-1839 = Flag of Guatemala (1839-1843).svg | flag alias-1843 = Flag of Guatemala (1843-1851).svg | flag alias-1851 = Flag of Guatemala (1851-1858).svg | flag alias-1858 = Flag of Guatemala (1858–1871).svg | flag alias-1871 = Flag of Guatemala (1871-1968).svg | flag alias-1968 = Flag of Guatemala (1968-1997).svg | flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Guatemala.svg | link alias-naval = Guatemalan Navy | link alias-air force = Guatemalan Air Force | link alias-army = Guatemalan Army | link alias-navy = Guatemalan Navy | size = | name = | variant = | altlink = national football team

}}

Club Teams

Europe

Club Teams

South America

Club Teams

Rugby Union

National Teams

Club Teams

References

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  1. ↑ Umbro at Iconix Brand website. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 11 February 2013
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Umbro history website Template:Webarchive, retrieved 27 March 2013
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ USL Umbro Dynamis Match Ball 2009Script error: No such module "Unsubst"., 16 January 2009
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ "Nike to buy Umbro" at Portland Business Journal Template:Webarchive, 23 October 2007
  10. ↑ "Umbro sign deal with New York Cosmos", SportsPro Template:Webarchive, 1 October 2010
  11. ↑ "Nike selles Cole Haan and Umbro", HighSnobiety website, 31 May 2012
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ "England announce five-year kit deal with Nike", Goal.com Template:Webarchive, 3 September 2012
  14. ↑ "Iconix Brand Buys Nike's Umbro Soccer Unit for $225 Million" at Bloomberg.com Template:Webarchive, 24 October 2012
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ "Iconix Brand Group Completes Acquisition of Umbro from Nike for $225 Million", Fashion Invest website Template:Webarchive, 4 December 2012
  17. ↑ "Boss Unveils New Umbro Partnership", Everton FC Template:Webarchive, 4 February 2014
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ PSV Eindhoven Announce Five-Year Umbro Kit Deal Template:Webarchive, 17 February 2015
  21. ↑ "West Ham re-united with Umbro", West Ham United FC Template:Webarchive, 30 April 2015
  22. ↑ Umbro and 1. FC Nürnberg Sign Long-Term Kit Deal Template:Webarchive, 3 December 2015
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Umbro products Template:Webarchive on Umbro official website, retrieved 12 February 2017
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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Template:Iconix Brand Group Template:Nike Template:Frasers Group Template:Sports equipment brands Template:Authority control

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