ENGLAND TRAINING BOOT SPOTTING
England will take on World and European Champions Spain on Saturday in an international friendly at Wembley Stadium before hosting Sweden on Tuesday. Saturday is the 12th of November – the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice at the end of the First World War. This has caused their seen the build-up to the match has been dominated by a dispute over poppies after Fifa denied the Football Association the right to add poppies to their shirts, saying it would breach their regulations on “political” symbols. However Fifa can’t stop the players from adding personalizations to their football boots and that is exactly what Nike have done for all their star players.
Ashley Cole’s White/Gold/Volt Tiempo Legend IV boots feature his initials and number just above a poppy. Interestingly Cole has chosen to stick with the ‘standard’ Tiempo rather then wearing the Elite version.
Gabriel Agbonlahor has been in tremendous for in the Premier League and that has resulted in the Aston Villa striker being recalled to the England fold. He will wear a pair of Volt/Purple/Retro Superfly III boots with his nickname and initial joining the poppy.
Theo Walcott is another player wearing the eye-catching Volt/Purple/Retro Superfly III colourway which features his initials and the traditional symbol of remembrance.
It wasn’t only Nike boots that were their to be spotted however as new boots and colourways were popping up everywhere you looked. Phil Jones could make another appearance for the senior squad – and this time it will be in the brand new Puma PowerCat 1.12.
The biggest talking point of the weekend is the global rollout of the new Adidas AdiZero MiCoach which we spotted on Stewart Downing. Interestingly Downing has opted for the alternate Black/Electricity/Warning colourway rather than the main Energy/White/Electricity colourway.
Along with the new AdiZeros Adidas will also be handing debuts to their new Black/Warning/White colourway. However Scott Carson may not be seeing much action as Joe hart will undoubtedly be starting.
Leighton Baines has a better chance of adding to his cap tally as he could come on or start ahead of Ashley Cole on the new AdiPower Predator colourway.
UMBRO ENGLAND AWAY SPECIAL EDITION
Having recently launched the all new England Away kit, Umbro have now returned with a special edition Away set ahead of England’s Euro qualifying game against Montenegro on Friday.
The new Away jersey and Anthem jacket feature a redesigned version of Peter Saville’s Modern England pattern, which Saville designed specially for Umbro, and features interlocking crosses to represent the flag of St George.
The new design features on the collar of the navy Away kit while the Anthem jacket is covered in a tonal navy St Georges crosses print.
The navy Jersey is a big change from the traditional red but it still a very traditional English colour and is a throw back to the traditional suiting colour worn by the England team first in the 1930s. Inspiration was taken from the caps given to England players as well as the original British passports, which were navy in colour.
Lightweight and breathable, the special edition shirt has adopted the same performance benefits as the England Away shirt. The shirt uses mesh technology to increase the airflow to the body, updating a style that was first introduced in 1970. The England shirt is made using full polyester on the inside to help draw sweat away from the body and features a cotton outer to provide a smart appearance.
The new special edition Away set will be available from the Umbro website from tomorrow the 7th of October.
UMBRO ENGLAND AWAY COLLECTION
Umbro fuses football smartness with modern tailoring to create the new England Away kit in a classic navy colour
Umbro has combined English smartness with modern football tailoring to create the new England Away kit in a classic navy suiting colour. The new Away kit (which we profiled here) will be worn by the England senior squad for the first time against Holland on August 10th, sees a return to blue – a colour which is synonymous with England and was first worn by the England team in the 1930s. Inspiration for the new shirt was taken from the blue caps given to England players as well as the original British passports, which were navy in colour. Similar to the design of the 2009 England Home shirt, the new away kit features a smart regatta blue pop out collar, detail inherent in Umbro football tailoring, whilst combining the performance elements required for the modern game.
Lightweight and breathable, the shirt uses mesh technology to increase the air flow to the body, updating a style that was first introduced in 1970 for the Mexico World Cup. The shirt is made using full polyester on the inside to help draw sweat away from the body and features a cotton outer to provide a smart appearance. Featuring a Raglan sleeve and darting over the top edge of the shoulder, the navy shirt maintains its shape whilst allowing freedom across the body.
“Myself and the England lads can’t wait to pull the new England Away kit on for the first time against Holland. Representing your country is one of the greatest honours for a player. Looking good gives you confidence on the pitch and it is great to have a new look with the navy blue,” commented England captain John Terry.
The shorts, in a lighter, blue regatta colouring, feature a side stretch mesh panel to aid ventilation. The short is straightened off to allow easy movement of the upper leg. The socks combine the blue of the shirt and short to complete the smart kit.
England manager Fabio Capello commented: “Blue is a strong colour and one which is part of the history and future of the England team. We face many difficult fixtures away from home this year and it is important for the team to look smart on and off the pitch.”
The new Away goalkeeper’s shirt (which we profiled here) references the strong graphical formations used on previous England kits and carries a formation of interlocking crosses which represent the flag of St George. The shirt is built from the latest in fabric technology in order to provide goalkeepers like Joe Hart with the best possible help on the pitch. With a simple, comfortable collar, the goalkeeper shirt is crafted from a special cotton fabric with panels built for stretch and movement, whilst the arms feature the same 360º pivot armhole to offer keepers maximum movement. The lower part of the arm on the shirt offers a tight fit offering articulation and compatibility with goalkeeping gloves.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart said: “The new goalie Away shirt is lively but I really like it and am looking forward to wearing it against Holland. The strip fits really well and it reminds me of some of the goalkeeper kits I used to see on my heroes when I was a kid.”
The wider on-pitch range will include two new Umbro anthem jackets – regatta blue for coaching staff and navy for players – which will be worn when they walk out onto the pitch. Tailored to compliment the kit and provide comfort for the players, the anthem jacket stays in line with the sense of smartness provided by the new kit.
In keeping with its tailoring heritage, Umbro has continued to provide shirts in chest sizes so that each England fan can experience a tailored fit. The kit will be worn by every level of the England team from juniors to seniors including the women’s team.
The new England Away kit is available to pre-order now and will go on sale August 10th 2011.
For more info visit: www.umbro.com/england
UMBRO ENGLAND AWAY GOALKEEPER KIT
Along with the new England away kit, Umbro have released a truly eye-catching goalkeeper kit. England number 1 Joe Hart will certainly be hard to miss in this new jersey which features a new graphic developed by iconic designer Peter Saville. The bright, colourful jersey design is made up of crosses from the St George’s Flag which tessellate to create a sharp effect in different shades of green on the body and upper arms of the shirt.
The shirt has a simple collar and has been crafted from a special polyester/cotton fabric with panels built for stretch and movement. the arms feature the same 360º pivot armhole as the outfield shirt to offer goalkeepers maximum movement.
The lower part of the arm on the goalkeeper shirt is also crafted with the specifics of the player in mind, with a tight fit offering articulation and compatibility with goalkeeping gloves. The England crest and Umbro logo are embroidered on the chest.
DAVID HAYE REVEALS NEW UMBRO ENGLAND AWAY KIT
Boxer David Haye to reveal new England Away football shirt in Germany
English WBA Boxing Champion David Haye will walk out at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg tomorrow night wearing the new England Away football shirt. Haye will be the first person to wear the smart navy blue England Away shirt before his world heavyweight title unification bout in Germany against Ukrainian fighter Wladimir Klitschko. As home to Hamburger SV, the Imtech Arena is no stranger to football and was one of the stadia used in the 2006 World Cup.
Haye commented: “It’s an honour to represent my country away from home and as a football fan, the opportunity to launch the England Away shirt is a huge privilege. I’ve had several messages of support from the England camp, including Fabio Capello, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, so I’m determined to put in a strong performance and bring all the world title belts back to England. Like many English sportsmen and women, I’ve faced opposing fans when I’ve fought abroad before and tomorrow night being in Germany will be nothing new for me. And I know that the support back home is immense.”
Haye’s entourage will also be sporting blue by wearing light blue Umbro anthem jackets as they walk to the ring.
England’s kits are made by football tailoring brand Umbro. For more than 87 years, the Manchester-based sportswear company has produced tailored football kits which blend style and performance. In 2010, Umbro launched the last England Away kit with English rock band Kasabian during their European tour in Paris.
Trevor Cairns, Chief Marketing Officer for Umbro, commented: “David is the embodiment of courage and pride so he is the perfect representative for England abroad. Representing your country, at home or away, is one of the greatest honours for a sportsman. The football rivalry between England and Germany goes back years so David’s fight in Hamburg presented an ideal opportunity to launch the new England Away shirt. There’ll be many fans in Hamburg rooting for Klitschko however Haye will by flying the flag for England.”
The new 2011 England Away shirt is blue; blue is part of England’s DNA and has been used by the England team since 1930. Inspiration for the new shirt was also taken from the blue caps given to England players as well as the original British passports which were navy in colour.
The new England Away kit is constructed using modern tailoring techniques:
- Lightweight and breathable, the shirt uses mesh technology to increase the air flow to the body, updating a design first introduced to the England shirt in 1970 for the Mexico World Cup
- Built using full polyester on the inside to draw sweat away from the body. The cotton outer gives a smart appearance which drives confidence in the player
- Featuring a raglan sleeve and darting over the top edge of the shoulder, the shirt maintains its shape whilst allowing freedom across the body
The new England Away kit is available for pre-order now and will go on sale August 10th. It will be worn by every level of the England team from juniors to seniors including the women’s team.
Visit www.umbro.com/england for more information.
UMBRO ENGLAND AWAY TEASER
The last time Umbro unveiled a new Away kit for the England national side, British rock band Kasabian were the first to wear it. Now Umbro have once again asked a famous British person to unveil the new jersey – World Heavyweight Champion David Haye.
Haye will showcase the new England Away jersey – which we have discovered is a dark navy blue – before he enters the ring for Saturday massive fight against Wladimir Klitschko.
The Hayemaker will have the whole of England behind him as he aims to become the undisputed world champion, including Kasabian singer Tom Meighan who recently paid David a visit. Kasabian famously revealed the previous England Away shirt in Paris in February 2010, so they know all about representing England abroad. As you can see in the video above, Tom visited David Haye recently to offer some works of encouragement and to pass on the brand new England Away shirt. Tomorrow you’ll be able to see the shirt for the first time.
LIMITED EDITION ENGLAND HOME JERSEY AND ANTHEM JACKET BY UMBRO
Umbro recently unveiled the new England home shirt. Now they return with this special limited edition version.
The new shirt emphasizes the innovative pattern – a series of tiny St George’s Crosses in red, blue, green and purple – created by iconic designer Peter Saville.
The shirt is covered with the crosses, creating a visually stunning motif. It features the same tailoring and attention to detail as the original England home shirt but with this special design, is a more striking version of the New Fabric of England.
Another eye-catching edition to the 2010 England range, is a special version of the England Anthem jacket which accompanies the limited edition home shirt. The Anthem also features Peter Saville’s colourful pattern all over the jacket.
Both the limited edition home shirt and the limited edition Anthem will be on sale from October 12th. For more information on the limited edition shirt, take a look at the Umbro blog and www.umbro.com
THE NEW FABRIC OF ENGLAND
England’s new home kit for the 2010-2012 season.
Umbro presents England’s future stars wearing England’s new home shirt.
The portrait of modern England. Tailored by Umbro.
England begin their attempt to rectify their poor World Cup showing by qualifying strongly for Euro 2012. Umbro have unveiled the new England home shirt to be worn for the upcoming 2010-2012 season.
Some of the country’s most talented younger players have been used to promote the new jersey with the likes of Rooney, Walcott, Adam Johnson, Joe Hart and Jack Wilshire lining up for the promotional images. We wonder how many of these young stars will be England regulars come the start of Euro 2012.
The new England jersey is once again ‘Tailored by Umbro’ and features a wider neckline – very similar to that used on the England away shirt – opposed to the previous home jersey’s polo collar. The most stand-out feature however is the new multicoloured shoulder panels. The shirt features dozens of tiny St Georges’ Crosses in a multitude of different colours on the shoulder panels.
This was the idea of legendary pop-artist Peter Saville who designed the new jersey. His explanation is that this design encapsulates the diversity of modern England. With players from a multitude of different heritages pulling on the new England Shirt, Saville believes this is a chance to represent the modern England and celebrate it’s variety of cultures, dispelling the myth that England is a nation comprised of people ‘sitting in pubs, drinking ale and eating roast beef’.
The home kit is rounded off with royal blue shorts – which deviates from last years’ all white kit. Umbro and England’s previous designs have relied heavily on darker navy blues, so a brighter blue is an interesting change. Umbro have also changed their logo from red to a royal blue colour to match the famous Three Lions on the badge.
The goal keepers will wear an all black kit, accented by the bright purple piping. The cut is very innovative on both the Home jersey and keeper’s jersey and that really comes through with the piping.
We also like the new ‘Anthem Jacket’ Umbro have created for fans.
We think the new Ladies goal keeper jersey is rather striking. In fact David James would probably look at home in this. He wore a similar colour last season for Portsmouth.
The full range of the England kit including the Anthem Jersey and Ladies Keeper jersey is available to buy from October the 12th 2010. The new kit will debut against Bulgaria this Friday the 3rd of September in England’s first Euro 2012 qualifier!
Exploring the concept behind his New Fabric Of England patterns, iconic graphic designer Peter Saville talks briefly about the idea that inspired it.
You can read more about the graphic at http://www.umbro.com
ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL SQUAD
After much speculation, Fabio Capello has named his provisional 30 man squad for the Word Cup later this year in South Africa. Owen Hargreaves’ race to be fit has failed while young Adam Johnson has done enough to find his name among the 30 man squad. (We have highlighted the 7 players who we don’t think will make the final cut.)
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green
Defenders
Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King,
John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock
Midfielders
Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard,
Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Forwards
Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
Who we would have liked to have seen there (and who we would have left out):
Carlton Cole (Heskey), David Bentley (Wright-Phillips), Ashley Young (Walcott), Micah Richards (Upson),
Paul Robinson (Green), and Phil Jagielka (Carragher).
If injury didn’t ruin their chances: Owen Hargreaves, Johnathan Woodgate.
ENGLAND SQUAD: WILL THERE BE SURPRISES?
Today Fabio Capello will announce his 30 man preliminary squad for the World Cup. We thought we’d take a look at some of the players who we think may surprise us and make the cut.
With the injury to Gareth Barry, there may just be an extra space for another midfielder – especially a defensive one. That could open the door for someone like Scott Parker or Tom Huddlestone. Both have been in superb form for their respective clubs. Huddlestone’s performances against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City proved he can ‘do it’ in big, pressured situations. There will also be a call for Owen Hargreaves to be included in (at least) the 30 man squad. The Canadian born midfielder has only played about 1 minute this season but it may still be worth taking him along. If he can find form, there is no better defensive midfielder in England. Michael Carrick has been a part of the squad for a while and should be the obvious choice to step up. He plays more as a distributor than a ball winner however. With the defensive woes of Ferdinand’s fitness and Terry’s form, a ball winner is a must.
Talking defense… Ledley King seems to have played himself into contention. His knees have found some strength from somewhere and his form for Spurs has been outstanding. He will surely go to South Africa as back-up for Ferdi and Terry. But he may just solve a problem… King has been used as a defensive midfielder (albeit with limited success) in the England setup. He won’t displace either Ferdinand or Terry at the back but could find himself getting game time in the middle of the field. James Milner is another option. It is possible however, that playing him in the middle will limit Lampard’s ability to get forward as Milner is a playmaker himself.
If you ever read our ‘Right Winger Series’ (which we admit is now slightly out of date…) we rated Beckham, Lennon and Milner as the three best choices for England’s right wing spot. Beckham is injured and Milner has been a central midfield revelation so that leaves Lennon as our only pick. His return from injury has been timely. While he was injured, Wright-Phillips and Walcott both failed to take their opportunity to stamp their authority on the number 7 shirt. Ashley Young seems to fly under Capello’s radar but the Aston Villa winger has been putting in some impressive performances – as has Manchester City winger Adam Johnton. We like all three, but there is another player who seems to have snuck into contention. Lennon’s injury provided a golden opportunity for David Bentley – an opportunity he took with both hands. We all know he has ability. He also has had an attitude in the past but Harry’s skills as a man-manager have brought out the best in him. His performances have been world class and when you think that both Crouch and Defoe have a great shout at being in the squad (if not the starting XI), Bentley would be a great option. His deadball skills and accurate crossing will be a valuable asset. Wayne Rooney credits most of his goal scoring endeavors this season to the quality of Antonio Valencia’s deliveries. England could benefit from a Crouch, Rooney, Bentley combination.
We haven’t heard the name Heskey for a while and the lack of movement by the big fellow leaves us wondering if he will make the cut. Heskey has been a starter for most of Capello’s reign and that may not change. We feel that he has been left behind in the past 6-8 months by Crouch and co. Bent, Cole and Zamora have all been more prolific and seem a better option. Crouch, Rooney, Defoe and Cole would provide England with plenty of options and variety.
Goalkeeper is another sore point for the England boss. Green is the current number 1, but is he ‘special’ enough? To win the World Cup one needs XI great players. Green is solid but we don’t feel that he is ‘great’. Joe Hart, on form, should be England’s number 1. David James and Paul Robinson would provide good cover and experience.
In the end it is up to Capello. Somewhere in the 30 and then in the final 23, we will find someone we feel should be there and someone we feel shouldn’t. Capello has to win the trophy and he can do it his way. The question is: Does he take the tried and tested? Or have one or two players played themselves into the Italians plans? We will find out soon enough.