Mitre

Mitre is a British sports equipment brand from Huddersfield, best known for footballs and for decades as a supplier of match balls to English football. According to the National Football Museum it traces its roots to a tannery founded in 1817. It matters as one of the longest-running sports manufacturers in England.

What is Mitre?

Mitre is a British sports brand focused on footballs, training equipment and team apparel. It is closely associated with English football, where its balls were used in many of the country's most visible matches over several decades.

History

The National Football Museum dates the business to 1817 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, when Benjamin Crook established a tannery that carried his name. The company made leather goods and later moved into sporting equipment and apparel, relocating about half a mile north to Birkby. It was renamed Mitre in 1949, reportedly in honour of the founder's friendship with a local bishop.

In the late 1950s Tom Finney endorsed Mitre balls and shin pads, and in 1964 Denis Law became its first official spokesperson. Mitre became the Football Association's official ball supplier in 1966 and supplied balls for every FA Cup Final for 40 years. It was the official Football League ball supplier from 1976.

Products and positioning

The brand's best known design is the Delta ball from the 1980s, whose chevron pattern became a trademark. Mitre also made the first balls used in the Premier League, including the Ultimax. The range today covers match and training footballs alongside team wear, in a mid-market position that targets clubs, schools and amateur players rather than the global performance end of the sector.

Business model and distribution

Mitre has historically worked through supply agreements with governing bodies and leagues, plus wholesale sales to clubs and sports retailers. The company is referred to as Mitre Sports International, but the sources consulted for this profile do not state its current ownership, so none is given here.

Why it matters

Nike replaced Mitre as Premier League ball supplier in 2000 and Umbro replaced it as the FA's preferred partner in 2006. Mitre nevertheless remained the English Football League ball supplier until 2021 and returned to supply the FA Cup, which shows the durability of a heritage brand in a market dominated by global sportswear groups.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Mitre from?

Mitre is a British brand that began as a tannery in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 1817. It took the Mitre name in 1949.

What is Mitre known for?

Mitre is known for footballs, including the Delta ball, and for supplying match balls to the FA Cup and English leagues over many decades.

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