Swans sign with Umbro
Swansea City is proud to announce a three-year partnership agreement with international kit manufacturers UMBRO.
UMBRO will be the official supplier of all Swans' playing and training kit for the next three seasons from June '08 through to May 2011.
The agreement ties in perfectly with the club's new-found status as a Championship club for the first time in 24 years.
Hot from the success of Swansea's promotion campaign, Swansea City's vice-chairman, Leigh Dineen, said: "We are delighted to team up with UMBRO. As a club we have worked extremely hard to attract a brand partner that matches the huge ambition of this football club.
"Having clinched promotion to the Championship, UMBRO will help the club progress to a new level - on and off the field.
"As our support has continued to grow substantially over the last few seasons, the demand to satisfy our fans' merchandising needs has also increased dramatically.
"This deal will help take us to a new level and I'm sure the fans will be delighted with the quality and range of merchandise for the coming season.''
The Swans will join the likes of Everton, Rangers, Blackburn, Wigan, West Ham, Birmingham Hull, Nottm Forest, WBA, Southampton and Sunderland who all sport the UMBRO brand.
In addition, UMBRO also supply international kits to England, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Norway.
Swansea City's Business and Merchandise Manager, Andrea Morris, said: "The deal is an exclusive agreement which means that only the club shop, Debenhams and our website will stock the club's official UMBRO merchandise.
"Since our move to the Liberty Stadium we've had three fantastic seasons. Our growth in merchandise sales has helped the club operate on a sound financial footing which, in turn, has gone a long way to establishing a promotion-winning team on the pitch.
"I'm sure the fans will not only give our new kits the big thumbs up, but also our exciting new range of leisurewear.
"We all look forward to a long and successful partnership with Umbro."
UMBRO's Director of Football, Simon Marsh, added: "I'm delighted to have added Swansea City Football Club to our existing portfolio of contracted clubs here in the UK.
"We created a strategy some three years ago which was geared towards creating a greater presence for the brand in its domestic market.
"By securing an initial three year agreement with the Swans, it will ensure the brand has a presence in South Wales for the foreseeable future. It also further enhances the brands geographical representation within the UK.
"During this period the supporters can expect some innovative new products, a selection of which will be available from the first week in June 08.
"We very much look forward to the next three years and hopefully this will be a platform for the club to go on and achieve even greater success both on and off the field in the future."
The club is also pleased to announce that Swansea.com will remain as the club's main kit sponsor for a second season.
Swansea.com owner, Martin Morgan, said: "It's been a fantastic season for both Swansea City and Swansea.com and we are delighted to extend our sponsorship onto the Championship stage.''
Meanwhile, the new home kit design will remain a closely-guarded secret until its official unveiling in early June. Watch the club's official website www.swanseacity.net for further details.
About UMBRO
UMBRO is a leading global football brand with over 80 years of heritage in the game.
UMBRO cares about one sport and one sport only - FOOTBALL.
Founded in Manchester in 1924, UMBRO is still based in the north-west of England today, from where the company designs and markets a wide range of football products, which are sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
UMBRO has the best interests of the game at heart and is one of the biggest supporters of football development in the UK.
As an official partner of the Football Association, UMBRO supports the game at all levels, from kids just starting to play the game, to support for coaches and referees, through to designing kit for, and working with, the UK's very best players.
Around the World, UMBRO has a proud tradition of working with some of the greatest names in world football and currently has partnerships with many of the game's top teams and players, including:
National Teams:
England, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland.
Club Teams:
Everton, Wigan, Glasgow Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Heart of Midlothian, Sunderland, Hull City, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, West Ham United, Southampton, Lincoln City, Wrexham, Linfield and Glentoran, Celta Vigo, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Dinamo, Malaga, Cruz Azul, Clube Atlético Paranaense, FC Santos, Playas de Castellon (Futsal), CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Gamba Osaka and now Swansea City.
Players:
John Terry, Michael Owen, Deco, Herman Crespo, Alan Shearer, Tim Cahill, Shola Ameobi, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Luis Garcia, Barry Ferguson , Joe Hart
