FA shirt deal will cost fans

The Football Association has signed a new shirt deal with Nike.  No doubt it is good business for them, but it will prove costly for England fans as they face the prospect of three different shirts in as many years. Fans will have to decide whether to pay £50 for a new shirt every season which, of course, costs a fraction of that to produce offshore.   Some fans have only recently bought the present kit.

The Football Association has signed a new shirt deal with Nike.  No doubt it is good business for them, but it will prove costly for England fans as they face the prospect of three different shirts in as many years. Fans will have to decide whether to pay £50 for a new shirt every season which, of course, costs a fraction of that to produce offshore.   Some fans have only recently bought the present kit.

Nike will replace Umbro next year as England’s official kit supplier.   The deal also covers St. George’s Park, the new National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent, and a partnership with Wembley Stadium.

Under the deal Nike will launch new home and away England kits next April as part of a series of events to mark the FA’s 150th anniversary.  However, they will only be worn by the national side for one year.  Two more kits will be unveiled in April 2014 and will be worn in that year’s World Cup in Brazil, after which the home shirt will change every two years, with the away shirt on a 18-month rotation.

The FA have had a 60-year partnership with Umbro.  Nike acquired the brand in 2007, but are in the process of negotiating a sale.