38-539: 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 marketed in over 100 countries. The business was started by brothers Harold and Wallace Humphreys. The name is a portmanteau of um , from Humphreys, and bro from brothers. Since 2012,
76-399: A puck is used. In many games, goal posts are at each end of the playing field. In some games, such as association football , hockey and water polo , the object is to pass the ball or puck between the posts below the crossbar. In basketball, the object is to pass the ball through the basket . In these sports, the goal usually has a net . In other sports, such as those based on rugby ,
114-462: A 10.1% stake in Umbro in a move to protect its stake in the market for England football shirts. On 23 October 2007, it was announced Umbro had agreed to be bought out by Nike in a deal worth £285 million , 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
152-487: A biomechanical system that is interacting with the athlete. Since the massive adoption of wearable, new sport equipment tend to be electronics and connected to deliver data performances. Standards and monitoring processes apply in certain industries aimed at the elimination of child labour in the manufacturing of sports goods. One example would be the Atlanta Agreement of 1997 in relation to child labour in
190-470: A particular sport. It includes balls, nets , rackets , protective gears like helmets , goggles , etc. Since the performer must use a sport equipment, it can also be serve for protection. Historically, many sports players have developed their own sporting equipment over time. For instance, the use of a football dates back to ancient China , between the Warring States period (476–221 BC) and
228-671: 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
266-749: Is directly affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Adult Soccer Association . The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida . Founded in 1985 by Francisco Marcos, the Southwest Indoor Soccer League was first intended as a minor indoor league associated with Major Indoor Soccer League . The league began with five teams, all owned by individuals who owned or operated indoor soccer arenas in
304-495: The Han Dynasty (220 AD). As football remains the most popular sport in the 21st century, the material of the ball has completely changed over the centuries; from being made out of animal skin, to being lined with multiple layers of polyester or cotton. As the sporting equipment industry improves, so do the athletes' performance. This is due to the fact that the equipment is more efficient, lighter and stronger, thus forming
342-609: 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
380-496: The Major Indoor Soccer League ; beginning indoor operations in 2011. The champions were determined by a single games in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. The champions were determined by a best of three series in 1998 and a best of five series in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and a home-and-home series in 2012 and 2013. In 1989, the Southwest Indoor Soccer League added a summer, outdoor season known as
418-599: The Paralympics ) may use extremity prostheses , such as the Flex-Foot Cheetah running blade. Protective equipment is often worn for sports including motor sport and contact sports , where there is a danger of injury through collision of players or other objects. In many sports, athletes wear helmets. These include: Padding is used to protect various body parts, most often as elbow pads , shin pads , and shoulder pads . Specialized equipment, such as
SECTION 10
#1732787082471456-595: The UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence. 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 . 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 . In May 2016, it
494-625: The jockstrap and mouthguard , is used to protect certain body parts. Ice hockey players may wear neck guards . Some athletes wear sports gloves to protect their hands. Many sports have a common set of clothing, usually called a uniform or kit, including the association football kit , baseball uniform , basketball uniform , cricket whites , and cycling kit . As part of the uniform, athletes may wear jerseys ; they may also be called shirts, sweaters in ice hockey or guernseys in Australian rules football. These jerseys may change color when
532-480: The 16 teams that competed, 15 wore kit manufactured by Umbro, 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. After more than a decade wearing Admiral kits,
570-587: The 1994 World Cup, and the league plans to push its teams to be considered for the "three-tiered first, second and third divisions" plan the USSF envisions for soccer." The USL began operations in 1986 as the Southwest Indoor Soccer League, a semi-professional indoor league. The league quickly expanded and added an outdoor season in 1989. In 1991, the league renamed itself the United States Interregional Soccer League. By then,
608-541: 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 , Vasco da Gama and Grêmio . 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
646-680: The American Soccer Pyramid), and the second tier women's league (W-League) and youth league (Super Y-League). 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
684-751: 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. 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. 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
722-521: 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
760-524: The Geometra II. Following the purchase of the brand by Iconix Brand Group in 2013, the first major product release from Umbro was the UX-1, a technologically advanced football boot which was voted as one of the best new releases of the year. Sports equipment Sports equipment , also called sporting goods , are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear, which varies in shapes, size, and usage in
798-521: The Jamaica national team. In March 2024, Castore has secured an exclusive deal with GL Dameck to become the sole licensee for Umbro Professional Team Sports, enabling them to distribute the Umbro brand across several key European markets. 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 . Until
SECTION 20
#1732787082471836-546: The Southwest Outdoor Soccer League. In 1990, the league dropped both "indoor" and "outdoor" from its name as it ran both a semi-professional indoor and outdoor season. By 1995, the outdoor season had grown to such a size that the USISL, as it was known at the time, split the league into two levels, the aptly named, fully professional Professional League and the semi-professional Premier League. In 1996,
874-658: The Southwest United States. League headquarters was in Austin, Texas. In 1986, Marcos' team, the Austin Sockadillos , entered the league giving it six teams. By 1989, the league had set its sights on greater prospects than remaining a small, semi-professional indoor league. A 1989 press release stated, "It is envisioned the league will be part of the USSF's plan to professionalize soccer in the USA prior to
912-700: The Stealth boot, 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. June 2011 saw the release of the Umbro Geometra Pro. In 2013, Umbro introduced to a new wave of releases that included the Speciali IV and
950-598: The USISL added a third, higher, Select League. This was formed from the strongest teams from both the Professional and Premier League. The Select League, along with the competing A-League , both received official Division II status from FIFA. However, the A-League was in decline while the USISL was expanding. In 1997, the A-League ceased operations and merged into the USISL Select League which was renamed
988-1237: The ball must pass over the crossbar. In tennis , badminton , and volleyball , players launch the projectile over a net which is supported by two posts. Racquets are used for racquet sports such as tennis , squash and badminton , and are used to hit a ball between opposing players or teams. Fishing rods and fishing tackle are primarily used for fishing and sport fishing . Sticks are used for sports such as hockey and lacrosse . Bats are used for sports such as baseball , cricket , and rounders . Clubs are used mainly for golf . Wickets , creases and balls are used in cricket , and bases are used in baseball. In many sports, athletes wear cleats . These include cricket spikes, football boots , golf shoes , and track spikes . Cyclists wear cycling shoes , which may be designed for special interaction with pedals . Wheeled shoes include roller skates and inline skates . Skiers wear ski boots , which attach to skis via bindings . Similarly, snowboarders have snowboard boots and bindings . Athletes wear ice skates in most ice-based sports, although there are exceptions such as broomball and curling . Athletes with limb differences (such as those in
1026-601: The field, most commonly in American football . United Soccer Leagues United Soccer League ( USL ) is an organizer of soccer leagues in the United States. It operates several men's and women's leagues, both professional. Men's leagues currently organized are the USL Championship , USL League One , USL League Two , and the youth league, USL Youth . A women's league, the USL W League , began play in 2022. It
1064-548: The football-making industry in Pakistan. There are well-developed international trade markets for sports equipment: for example, a steady increase in sports equipment trade within the European Union and between EU member states and the rest of the world was reported during the period from 2017 to 2020. In ball sports , balls are a key element—usually as part of the scoring mechanism. Sports balls are usually in
1102-500: The marque is a subsidiary of American brand management company Iconix Brand Group . 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
1140-479: 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
1178-470: The outdoor league overshadowed the indoor league which continued to slowly dwindle in importance. By the 1997–98 season, only five teams remained indoors while the outdoor season had over a hundred teams divided into a three-division structure. This led the league to stop running an indoor league. In 2010, the USL began to consider relaunching an indoor season. However, it decided instead to take over operations of
Umbro - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-486: The shape of a sphere , though they may also be spheroid or ellipsoid . Spherical balls include the baseball , basketball , Gaelic ball , cricket ball , golf ball , lacrosse ball , tennis ball , and the ball used in association football . Spheroid and ellipsoid balls include the gridiron football and rugby ball . In flying disc sports , frisbees are used for various games such as freestyle , disc golf and ultimate . In ice hockey and floor hockey ,
1254-674: The team is on the road . Examples of training equipment include swiss balls , resistance bands , tennis balls, balance discs, cones, weights , chin-up bars , weight machines, and gym equipment. Also, protective equipment such as weight lifting belts and bench shirts are used for weight training and powerlifting . Special sports equipment, is the equipment usually worn by the athletes according to their needs or desires. Vehicles (sometimes specialized) are used as equipment for some sports, including motor sport , cycling, aeronautics , sailing and hot air ballooning . Small vehicles with flatbeds are often used to carry injured athletes off
1292-1015: The time of the offer was close to 130p. The deal was approved by regulators in December 2007 and concluded in February 2008. 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. In 2010, Umbro became sponsor of reformed American team New York Cosmos to be its exclusive kit supplier. 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 . In September 2012, The FA announced that future England kits would be manufactured by Nike. In October 2012, Nike announced that it had agreed with Iconix Brand Group to sell Umbro for US$ 225 million. The acquisition
1330-422: Was Manchester United manager Matt Busby , in 1959. 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
1368-402: Was announced that Umbro had become the technical sponsor of Blackburn Rovers 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
1406-446: Was changed in 1924 to "Umbro" and is a quasi- portmanteau inspired by Humphreys Brothers Clothing. 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 . In 1952,
1444-401: Was 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 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
#470529