Admiral
United Kingdom
Admiral is a British sportswear brand whose trademark was created in 1914 in Leicester by Cook & Hurst Ltd. It is credited with pioneering the UK replica football kit market in the 1970s, and today the owner is listed as Admiral Sportswear Ltd.
| Trademark created | 1914 |
|---|---|
| Founded by | Cook & Hurst Ltd. (established 1908) |
| Origin | Leicester, England |
| Headquarters | Altrincham, Manchester (per Wikipedia) |
| Segment | Sportswear and outdoor |
| Website | admiralsports.com |
What is Admiral?
Admiral is a British sportswear and apparel brand with a focus on football clothing. It has also made kit for cricket, cycling and athletics, and holds rights to footwear, clothing and accessories. Its website is admiralsports.com.
History
The business was established in 1908 by Christopher Cook and Harold Hurst as Cook & Hurst Ltd., which created the Admiral trademark in 1914 in Leicester. Leeds United wore the first visibly branded kit in the English top flight in 1973 to 1974, helping Admiral pioneer the UK replica kit market. In 1974 it made the first commercially available England shirt carrying a sportswear manufacturer's logo, under a deal with the Football Association, and launched a new England kit in 1980, first worn in a 3 to 1 win over Argentina at Wembley.
Ownership
The infobox of the source gives Admiral Sportswear Ltd. as owner without a date. Later ownership history is not covered in the source, so no parent group is stated here, and its base is listed as Altrincham, Manchester.
Business model and distribution
- Team supply: kit supply and sponsorship deals, including ProDirect Sport as exclusive UK and Irish supplier of cricket and football teamwear in 2022.
- Licensing: Cisalfa Sport acts as Italian retail licensee.
- International: the brand sells worldwide.
Why it matters
Admiral is a historic name in English football merchandising. Its 1970s kits helped create the commercial replica shirt market that every major sportswear brand now relies on.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Admiral from?
Admiral is from England. Its trademark was created in 1914 in Leicester by Cook & Hurst Ltd., and the brand is now based in the Manchester area.
What is Admiral known for?
Admiral is known for pioneering the UK replica football kit market in the 1970s, including the first visibly branded top flight kit for Leeds United in 1973 to 1974 and the first England shirt with a manufacturer logo in 1974.