Umbro is a UK sports and football equipment supplier based in Manchester, England. Umbro designs, sources, and markets clothing, footwear, and soccer related equipment. Its products are sold in more than 90 countries worldwide. Since 2012, the company has become a subsidiary of Iconix Brand Group America.
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History
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The company was founded by Harold Humphreys, along with his brother Wallace in a small workshop in Wilmslow, Cheshire, inspired by growing interest in football that was watched nationwide. The name "Umbro" is a quasi-portmanteau inspired by Humphreys Brothers Clothing. Umbro's debut kit was in the 1934 FA Cup final, when both Manchester City and Portsmouth teams wore kit designed and manufactured by the company. Other teams supplied by Umbro during the 1930s and 1940s were Sheffield United, Preston North End, Manchester United and Blackpool.
Umbro is the official British FA Cup sports producer and the FA's official sponsor, as the exclusive ball supplier for the leagues of the body.
In 1952, the British team at the Summer Olympics wore the Umbro kit, which was tailored for their individual sporting needs. Umbro will provide equipment for the British Olympic team over the next 20 years.
In 1957, Umbro entered the tennis market, producing sportswear in collaboration with player Ted Tinling. This collaboration was extended for three decades. Another athlete who collaborated with Umbro was Manchester United manager Matt Busby, in 1959. That same year, the company began selling his junior boys' kits, a set of shirts, shorts and socks that would allow young players to wear the same look as those football idols.
Brazil became the first FIFA World Cup champion to wear kit by Umbro in 1958. Two years later, Manchester United player Denis Law signed an exclusive deal with the brand, becoming the first footballer sponsored by Umbro. The England national team won the title only in 1966 put on a kit by Umbro (deal was signed in 1954). Of the 16 competing teams, 15 wore kits produced by Umbro, the only exception being the Soviet Union. At the same time, 85% of English football teams wear equipment by companies, including Celtic, the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967. Liverpool FC won the first four of their five European Cups while wearing Umbro kits, in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984.
In 1974, Umbro's founder, Harold Humphreys, died. His son, John and Stuart, took over the company. The British national team wore the Umbro T-shirts with a choice until 1974, when The Football Association, spearheaded by British manager Don Revie, sold the jersey-making right for Admiral Sportswear.
After more than a decade of wearing the Admiral's equipment, the English national team signed with Umbro again in 1984. In 1986, Umbro started producing his own football boots. The company added Alan Shearer and 14-year-old Michael Owen to the list of sponsored athletes. In 1994, Brazil won the fourth FIFA World Cup title in the United States and AFC Ajax club team (in 1995), and Manchester United (in 1999) earned UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup, in Tokyo, all wearing Umbro kit.
In the United States, Umbro is majority owner (94%) of United Soccer Leagues, parent organization for North American bottom men's soccer (second to fourth in American Soccer Pyramid) and second league women league (W-League) and league youth (Super Y-League). During the 2009 USL First Division season, Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Vancouver Whitecaps, Rochester Rhinos, Austin Aztex, and Puerto Rico Islanders all wear Umbro kits. During the 2012 USLPro season, the Dutch lion Dayton 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 British football shirts.
Nike Agreement
On October 23, 2007, it was announced Umbro agreed to be bought by Nike in a deal worth GBÃ £ 285 million, equivalent to 193p per share. Umbro Council recommends to shareholders they choose to support the approach, as it offers a very competitive price for business. Umbro's share price at the time of the offer was close to 130p. The deal was approved by the regulator in December 2007 and ended in February 2008. With the aim of revitalizing the brand, Umbro launched the line "Adjusted by the UK". On June 4, 2009, Umbro signed a deal with Manchester City to provide a kit for the team. Wearing the Umbro kit, Manchester City won its first championship in 35 years.
In 2010, Umbro sponsored an American team reformed New York Cosmos to become his exclusive kit supplier.
In May 2012, Nike reported that they would sell Umbro (along with Cole Haan) to focus on their sports brands, including Nike, Converse, Hurley and Air Jordan. In September 2012, the FA announced that a future UK kit would be produced by Nike.
Ikonix Brand Group
In October 2012, Nike announced that it has agreed with Iconix Brand Group to sell Umbro for 225 million US dollars. This acquisition is completed in December 2012.
In February 2014, it was announced that Umbro would supply Everton from the start of the 2014-15 football season. This is the first new club announcement since Iconix Brand Group bought Umbro, and followed by the announcement of a similar deal with Hull City and French club Lens and Nantes. On June 9, 2014, Derby County announced that their fixtures for the 2014-15 season will be made by Umbro.
Then in 2014, Umbro announced an agreement to supply a number of teams, including Serbian national football team, Malawi national football team, Vasco da Gama and GrÃÆ'ªmio.
In February 2015, Dutch champion Eredivisie PSV announced a new kit deal with Umbro, replacing PSV's earlier deal with Nike, which has existed since 1994. The deal coincides with the return of PSV to the UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence.
By late April 2015, West Ham United announced a new five-year deal with Umbro as the official technical partner of the club. This agreement includes making a warning kit for the last year of the Palu on the historic Boleyn Ground.
In early December 2015, the German club 1. FC NÃÆ'¼rnberg announced a long-term contract with Umbro as the official supplier of club kits, replacing Adidas.
In May 2016, it was announced that Umbro has been a technical sponsor of Blackburn Rovers in a five-year contract. And will also re-create A.F.C. Bournemouth kit after two separate occasions in the 70s and 80s for the 2017-18 season.
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Products
Umbro currently focuses on football equipment, such as kit uniforms (jerseys, shorts and socks), goalie gloves, balls and boots, as well as other clothing such as t-shirts and jackets.
Until the mid-1980s, the company only produced sportswear, especially football jerseys, shorts and socks, but lacked footwear. Finally, in 1985, Umbro decided to introduce his first football boot to the Brazilian market. This design, cheaper than existing boot brand products such as Adidas, proved popular and went into international mass production two years later.
Umbro also produces popular shorts styles that peaked in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are made of nylon, have waist straps, and often come in bright colors. With the growth of youth soccer league in the US in the 1980s, many youth, teenagers, and young adults began wearing everyday clothes. At the peak of "Umbro mode", other brands of football shorts, such as Adidas, Diadora, Hummel, Lotto, and Miter, also became popular. Its main competitors in this market include Reebok, Nike, Adidas, Puma and fellow Italian producers, Lotto.
Another release by Umbro including the Stealth boot, was released in 2010 and worn by players like GaÃÆ'ÂÂ Â «Clichy and Phil Jagielka. In the same year, the company released the GT, which was worn by Fulham striker Darren Bent. The company announced it as "the lightest ever boot." It was replaced by the GT II model. June 2011 saw the release of Umbro Geometra Pro. In 2013, Umbro introduced a new wave of releases that included Speciali IV and Geometra II.
After brand purchase by Iconix Brand Group in 2013, the first major product release from Umbro is UX-1, a technologically advanced football boot selected as one of the best new releases of the year.
Sponsors
Umbro is an authorized supplier and sponsor of various associations of football teams, players and associations, including:
Association
- FFA Cup
- Coupe de la Ligue
National team
Africa
- Malawi
Asia
- Panjab
Europe
- SÃÆ'¡pmi
South America
- Peru
North America
- Ã, Canada
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Jamaica
Club Team
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
South America
Athlete
Handball
- Norway
Curling
- Norway
- United Kingdom
Artist
- Jay Park
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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