Time for Umbro to go as West Ham United kit maker after recent links with the likes of global sportswear giant Nike.
That is how many West Ham fans are feeling right now after the shocking ‘You’ve been Tango’d’ kit made another appearance in the defeat to Man United.
The Hammers were in the last season of a five-year deal with kit maker Umbro back in 2019 when it was renewed.
The firm had replaced fans’ favourites Adidas as West Ham’s kit manufacturers.
Speculation from SAB meetings with West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady at the time suggested Umbro were set to be replaced by Nike for the 2020/21 season.
West Ham have had kits made by Umbro, Adidas, Fila, Reebok, Macron, Pony and Admiral over the years but never Nike.
Last month speculation was circulating at West Ham that the partnership with Umbro will not be renewed and finishes at the end of this season.
The word is that West Ham are set for a Nike deal as rumours resurface after the club’s previous vague Umbro contract update.
But there has been some confusion surrounding those unverified rumours.
Because in the summer of 2019 West Ham announced a renewal with Umbro – which made the club’s first ever replica kits – until the end of the 2022-2023 season (whufc.com).
Just a year later, though, West Ham made a new announcement ‘confirming a new long-term extension with Umbro which will see the global sportswear company remain as the Club’s Official Technical Partner’ (whufc.com).
The statement on West Ham’s website did not specify when that extension expires, though.
Umbro – like most firms – have produced kits which have received mixed reviews from West Ham fans over the years.
But this season’s offering has received a particularly negative backlash from a majority of supporters.
And the white and orange third strip in particular has been heavily criticised.
Former West Ham star Don Hutchison took to social media during the defeat to Man United joking that his old club didn’t deserve to win the game based on the horrendous kit alone!
Many supporters agree with the sentiment. Quite where orange figures in West Ham’s history is anyone’s guess.
Even the colours in the home strip have been questioned as not being quite right in terms of the shades of claret and blue.
Umbro have had a long run at it with West Ham and while they have produced the odd well received strip, it is surely time for change.
The white and orange strip has been likened to a Blackpool kit and seems to be a very lazy effort from the designer.
It is time for Umbro to go as West Ham United kit maker after the recent links with the likes of Nike.
A switch to Nike would certainly be a major step up in terms of branding for West Ham.
It is true some fans feel their kits are often too generic and templated for several clubs.
There has also been speculation that Castore, which make kits for Newcastle and Aston Villa, could be in the mix to replace Umbro too.
But given the lack of clarity from West Ham over when the ‘extended’ Umbro deal is up, we remain very much in the dark for now.
One thing is for certain, though, in our opinion it is time for Umbro to go.
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