Umbro Hit By Poor England Replica Sales

The England football team’s recent run of poor results on the pitch has affected
sportswear group Umbro who blamed poor sales of new England replica shirts for
knocking next year’s profits.

The group, which also makes shirts for six Premier League clubs including
Everton, West Ham and Wigan, said trading for the current year would be in line
with expectations despite ‘disappointing’ sales of new England shirts during the
key summer trading period.

The sportswear group said earnings in 2008 would be hit as excess stocks of
the home kit would have a knock on effect on sales of the new England away
shirt, due to be launched in the first quarter of next year.

The news came as the company posted a fall in pre-tax profits to £10.1m
during the six months to 1st July, down from £17.7 m last year, with figures hit
by the tough comparative of last year’s World Cup.