Umbro extends shirt deal with FA

MANCHESTER-based sportwear brand Umbro has announced that it has signed a new deal with the Football Association which will see the firm continue its sponsorship of the England national team until 2018.

Umbro, which is now part of US sportwear giant Nike following a £285m buyout three years ago, said that the new deal represents a “significant investment” on its part, including a new Umbro Partnership which has been created to fund development activities at all levels of the game. It is sponsoring 23 FA teams, including the women’s national team, Futsal, disabled and amateur teams. It will also provide free kit and equipment to 4,000 amateur teams to support an FA Chartered Standard Clubs initiative.

Commenting on the agreement, Martin Prothero, Senior Vice President of Football at Umbro said: “We are delighted to announce the extension of our contract with The Football Association.

“Umbro has been part of English football longer than anyone and it is only natural that we work with The FA to develop the game. We are absolutely committed to supporting The FA at all levels of the game, both broad and deep and we feel now is the right time to show that commitment as we head into a new era for English football.”

Umbro first began manufacturing kits for the England national team in 1952, and has just launched a new England kit for the start of the 2012 European Cup qualifying campaign. The kit has been designed by Peter Saville, who is best known for his work fror the Manchester-based Factory Records label. Saville also holds the title of creative director for Manchester.

His design for the new England home shirt includes blue, green and red crosses – all colours in England’s team crest.

“Both the nation and the fans themselves are more diverse than ever before – whether that’s differences in politics, religion, ethnicity, fashions, music and art,” said Saville.

“The landscape of England has shifted dramatically over the past couple of decades and we are now one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. Football is a language that everyone can relate to and the new England home kit provided the perfect canvas to reflect what England looks like today. The reality of modern England is expressed in this pattern as it reclaims the St George’s cross to positively represent our contemporary society.”

The kit will be worn for the first time during tomorrow night’s game against Bulgaria.