FA confirms 'important' funding from Umbro is behind regular England strip changes

The country's football governing body has backed the decision to change the national team's kit after only eight matches as the funding received from Umbro is crucial



The Football Association have confirmed the decision to change the England's national team strip every 18 months is due to the crucial funding from sponsor Umbro.In a contract negotiated with the sports brand giant following the 2010 World Cup, it was agreed that new models of the kit would be released every 18 months, rather than the former two year cycle.

The latest kit will be revealed when England take on Holland in a friendly on February 29.It means England's kit would have changed a mere eight matches after the last remodel and, remarkably, another change will take place during the middle of the next set of World Cup qualifiers.The FA however, have made it clear that they are fully behind Umbro's agreement, stating that the resulting funding is "extremely important"."As a sportswear company with great history and expertise they are best placed to take decisions on kit cycle, and we support them in their long term strategy," Chairman of the Football Supporters Federation Malcolm Clarke told the Daily Mail."The FA is a not-for-profit organisation that reinvests more than £100million every year, including more than £50million into grassroots football," said an FA spokesman."The FA and Umbro have a long-standing partnership including investment at all levels of England teams and in St George's Park which opens this year." - http://www.goal.com/