Leicester firm started replica shirt trend.

[Webbo]

Get Shirty, documentary on ITV Wednesday 10.40

 

“They changed the whole way the game looked, and the colours burned so bright that it could be said Admiral unleashed this monster and it couldn’t continue. By the mid-80s the factory had closed for the last time and that was it.” - John Devlin, author

 

This new documentary for ITV charts the stratospheric rise and fall of football replica kit pioneers Admiral, from its beginnings as a maker of nuns' knickers to its role in kick-starting a new multi-billion pound sportswear industry with their brand new strips.

 

Responsible for design classics and controversial kits like the infamous Coventry City brown away get-up, the Leicester firm claimed to be the first company to produce replica kits for kids to buy to look like their heroes.

 

Yet what Admiral created grew into a massive sportswear industry, says John Devlin - and those retro brown Coventry City shirts now fetch up to £500 secondhand. He says: “Admiral’s first deal with Leeds was worth £7,000, and just recently Real Madrid signed with Adidas for £1 billion – the world’s first billion-pound kit deal. So now the biggest clubs in the world, the biggest nations in the world, huge amounts of income are given to them by their kit suppliers. What this little firm in Leicester created has rippled out throughout the whole of football.”
 

 

Full story.

[pSinatra]

I remember my Dad telling me "that's where they make the Leicester & England kit" every time we passed their factory when we used to live in Wigston when I was a nipper.  It was just about opposite The Magna pictures.  I couldn't give a shit at the time, but my Dad seemed quite proud.  Made my favourite Leicester & England kits.

[Webbo]

I remember somebody saying years ago that Man U started the replica shirt business but quite a few kids had this shirt when I was young

[Izzy]

My first ever England shirt, and still the best shirt I ever owned:

[Rob1742]

It was Admiral that created what we have now. I lived as a kid through the change. One season nobody wore replica kits, the next season these new fantastic designs came out and everyone wanted them.

 

I remember when I got my kit for Christmas, I was so excited I threw up. It really was a massive new creation for football fans. But expensive, not many could afford them.

 

Admiral started it in Wigston, it was massive and on our doorstep. 

 

The he football kit revolution started with Admiral produced these fantastic kits, Nike etc were mere followers. 

[Samilktray]

We should all be thankful Admiral kits are a thing of the past tbh

[Izzy]

11 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I remember somebody saying years ago that Man U started the replica shirt business but quite a few kids had this shirt when I was young

Everything about that photos just oozes class. The quiff, the tan, the tache, the chain, the collar, the sleeves, and the badge. You can keep your poncy modern day footballer with his tattoos, Dr Dre headphones & washbag, and bow down to the legend that is Frankie Wortho instead. 

[Webbo]

18 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

My first ever England shirt, and still the best shirt I ever owned:

I had this one, cracking shirt;

[Izzy]

4 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I had this one, cracking shirt;

She's a beauty alright. 1982 World Cup I think!

[BirminghamFox]

My Mrs bought me a signed Lineker England top years ago.

[cambridgefox]

Thought it was going to be about the Baby Squad!

[boots60]

Back in the day half the kids in Wigston could be seen in the latest England shirt before it was unveiled.

 

[Rocket-Ron]

My mates mum used to work at Admiral for a few years. used to bring us home some of the shirts.

 

I used to strut around in this for most of the summer

 

[Blue ROI]

Strange to think that Admiral started it all and then disappeared just as fast.

 

The minute Adidas arrived on the scene it changed the game and then the continental designs likes Le Coq Sportif, Patrick and Hummel started to take off. Umbro survived but they became too reliant on football and never diversified. 

 

Nike made a good start wit Arsenal in 1994 but they have set the industry back years with their bland designs.

 

With the amount of our players wearing Nike boots I'd be almost certain that they will take over from Puma.

[Rob1742]

There is a book out about Admiral, well worth a read. Think it is by Bert Patrick who was one of the Directors at the time.

[yorkie1999]

Should have employed bernie ecclestone to organise copyrighting the idea.

[rico]

6 hours ago, Rocket-Ron said:

My mates mum used to work at Admiral for a few years. used to bring us home some of the shirts.

 

I used to strut around in this for most of the summer

 

i had Chicago Sting

 

[Guest claude_leic]

For those of you who are interested, there's a programme on Wednesday night (21st September) at 10.40 on ITV about the Leicester based company Admiral Sportswear, which documents their impact on the football shirt industry in the 70s and 80s. See links below:

 

 

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week38/get-shirty

[foxy boxing]

at first i thought it was admiral the insurance company?

[TiffToff88]

As enthralling as that sounds, i'm busy wednesday evening, i'm watching the grass grow in my garden

[Renart]

23 minutes ago, TiffToff88 said:

As enthralling as that sounds, i'm busy wednesday evening, i'm watching the grass grow in my garden

Me too. 

 

What time are we coming round? Do I need to bring anything? snacks? magnifying glass? tweezers?

[rico]

Was a decent watch actually....

[evil jack]

On 18 September 2016 at 22:06, Webbo said:

I remember somebody saying years ago that Man U started the replica shirt business but quite a few kids had this shirt when I was young

My first ever replica shirt! A bit scratchy feeling as I remember, but I loved it....

[melrose]

On 18/09/2016 at 22:12, Izzy Muzzett said:

My first ever England shirt, and still the best shirt I ever owned:

 

I remember his face but his name escapes me, the player in the centre?

Obviously Keegan and Francis

[Izzy]

10 minutes ago, melrose said:

 

I remember his face but his name escapes me, the player in the centre?

Obviously Keegan and Francis

I think it's a very young Dave Watson. Defender who played for the likes of Man City & Southampton from memory. But I could be wrong!