Yesterday, we revealed the new England home kit for the first time, an exciting new venture that’s introducing some exciting concepts into the world of football kits. But what about the items that’ll accompany it?
With the home kit, we’ll also have a new Anthem jacket that the players will wear alongside their new shirts.  In a rich royal blue with white collar trim, it’s a smart accompaniment to the main shirt.

In cotton with the multi-coloured motif featuring as a subtle piping trim on the inside of the jacket, the Anthem will look perfect on or off the pitch.

Yesterday, we also revealed the new goalkeeper shirt, which comes in black, but we wanted to do something special for the England women’s team to recognise their tremendous recent achievements and the distinct nature of the women’s game.

Reversing the colours of the men’s goalkeeper kit, the women’s kit comes in purple with a black piping trim. Peter Saville’s modern England motif is featured throughout the kit in a subtle tonal purple. With purple shorts and socks, it should ensure that our goalkeeper stands out on the pitch for all the right reasons.

We’ve got plenty more to tell you about the new England home kit and the ideas behind the New Fabric Of England – check back here on the blog tomorrow for more, or head over to Umbro.com to get the full story.

Earlier, you got your first glimpse of the brand new England Home kit, which will be worn by the players for the first time as they take on Bulgaria in the first of their qualifiers for the UEFA 2012 European Championships on Friday. But what does the kit actually look like close up?

The shirt, like the previous England home and the current England away, is inspired by English tailoring heritage, but with the latest in innovative, technical design. Constructed from two distinct cotton-based fabrics, the shirt is thicker for protection on the front and back, and more flexible in the under-arm, increasing movement.

The neckline is perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the new kit, with a square collar accompanied by a longer, more open neckline which increases the amount of movement in the garment across the chest. This is particularly important for players when they’re running and changing direction quickly on the pitch.

With the New Fabric Of England graphic on the shoulder and a blue Umbro logo on the chest, the new home shirt certainly adds colour to the England palette. This continues with the shorts, which are royal blue, and the socks, which are white with a royal blue trim. Both are developed into an ergonomic shape that again provides a fantastic fit for the players and aids their on-pitch movement.

Goalkeepers always stand out on the pitch, but in terms of the new England goalkeeper kit, it’s built using exactly the same framework as the outfield kit to emphasise team uniformity. In black with purple piping which was added to give the look of a formal shirt, the goalkeeper shirt features the New Fabric Of England motif in a subtle tonal black throughout the shirt. With shorts and socks also in black, goalkeepers such as Joe Hart will look be looking sharp on the pitch, whilst having the freedom to let their football do the talking.

The new England home kit is sure to capture plenty of attention, but they’re not the only part of this range. Check back tomorrow when we’ll have more details on other items in the new range that the players will be wearing, or head over to Umbro.com for the full story on the New Fabric Of England.

(Top row: Joe Hart, Adam Johnson, Eric Dier, Jade Bailey, Saido Berahino, Thomas Cruise; Bottom row: Jack Wilshere, Fern Whelan, Wayne Rooney, Connor Wickham, Theo Walcott)

As England look to the start of their campaign for Euro 2012, we’re very excited to announce a new deal between the Football Association and Umbro, that will see us working together until at least 2018. At the same time, we can also reveal a new home kit that the team will wear as they battle for a place in the finals.

Giving the team a fresh new look, the new home shirt builds on the tailored principles behind the previous shirt and the current away kit, using the latest in design technology whilst adding a new, colourful graphic design to the template.

So what’s the thinking behind this design? The idea, another innovative approach to football kit design from Umbro, is inspired by the involvement of a true cultural icon in this particular project. Peter Saville – iconic graphic designer and all-round cultural connoisseur – has designed a special fabric print for the new kit, which features on the shoulder panels of the shirt.

Saville – who initially made his name through his work with Factory Records, and is now recognised as one of Britain’s leading creative minds – has crafted this design through a consideration of England’s cultural makeup. Inspired by the increasingly diverse fabric of England, the design takes the traditional St. George’s cross and reinterprets it as a reoccurring motif in four different colours – the traditional red, blue and green which feature in England’s three lions crest, plus a blend of all three which comes out as a striking purple.

Players names will appear within the fabric, to underline how they’re a part of the fabric of modern England. The shirt itself is inspired by the formal designs in England’s past, combined with the latest in design innovation.

Inspired by the idea behind this cultural fabric, we decided to reveal the new kit on a special England team line-up that you can see at the top of the page, made up of some of the best young footballing talent in the country. Alongside established names such as Rooney and Joe Hart, we’ve also picked out players such Jade Bailey, one of the best prospects in the England Women’s team, and Eric Dier, an English teenager playing abroad in Portugal.

Together, they epitomise the different ideas on what it means to be English that the new fabric of England represents. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at the kit itself, the players we’ve chosen and the man who’s designed it, ahead of the shirt going on sale on October 12th. Ahead of that, you can see the kit being worn for the first time when England take on Bulgaria in their opening Euro 2012 game this Friday. In the meantime, here’s a video that offers a quick glimpse into the idea behind the new fabric of England:

For more on the New Fabric Of England, take a look at Umbro.com. And check back here later for a closer look at the new Home kit.

There was a very special moment in England women’s football last night, when star winger Rachel Yankey made her 100th appearance for the national side. She certainly celebrated in style, captaining the side for the match against Turkey and scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 win. That victory virtually guarantees England a spot in the play offs for next summer’s World Cup, a fantastic achievement for the women’s team. We spoke to Rachel this morning after her terrific achievement, here’s what she had to say about the special night, women’s football and being an Abba fan….

Congratulations on getting your 100th cap and captaining the side last nigth. When did you find out?

“On Thursday afternoon, before we went out to train, there was a few people who had one-to-one meetings with Hope and the coaching staff. We had a meeting about performances, and what I needed to do, and at the end Hope just said ‘you know you’ll be captain for the night and leading the team out?’ I was a little bit speechless to be honest! I didn’t expect that, but it was a nice touch.”

Were you nervous to be leading the team out?

“To be honest, I’m usually last out of the changing room, so it was a bit of a rush! I forgot that you have to be at the front as captain, so I didn’t really have chance to be nervous. Faye (White) who’s normally captain helped me out and told me what I was suppose to do.”

What did you think of the game?

“We knew that we had to go and get three points, anything less wouldn’t be good enough. We wanted to get it over and done with, and put on a bit of a performance. Although we thought we could’ve played better, the main aim was to get three points, and we did that.”

It must have been nice to get a goal as well?

“Yeah, I don’t score that many! It was nice to get one, and it was a great ball by Alex (Scott) to put me through. Luckily I didn’t really have to think about it too much, it was more of an instinctive thing, which is probably better for me!”

How does it feel to have got 100 caps?

“I’m very proud. I think I’ll fully appreciate it when I’ve stopped playing, and I’ll look back at my career. There’s only Gill Coultard who’s done it before me, I used to look up to her and she’s such a good player, so it’s pretty amazing that I’ve now passed that mark as well. I feel really honoured, and I feel like I’ve achieved something really great.”

What major changes have you seen in the game during your time playing?

‘I made my debut in 1997, so that’s 13 years in the game, it does make you think. Now, the youth system is coming on leaps and bounds, the players coming through are more advanced, and they’ve got a lot more experience. I remember when I started out, I played for the first team before I’d played Under-18s or anything like that, so it was a bit backwards in that sense.

Now, there’s different teams at different levels, so when players come into the first team it’s not such a shock. Also, no disrepect to the players back then, but when I started we didn’t really train as the players do now, there was none of the sports science that’s around today. We just used to get through games and do our own training, but now they’re treated more like athletes and it’s more professional.”

You were also the first professional female player in Britain I believe?

“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told. When I signed for Fulham, I was the first professional. Nowadays, there’s quite a few players who’ve been signed up for teams over in America, and the training facilities and the standards over there can only be good for them and the game. It’s something that needs to happen, and hopefully the Super League that’s being set up over here can do the same thing for us, and then drive on the England team.”

With this achievement under your belt, do you have any more ambitions in the game?

“Definitely, I feel I’ve still got a lot more in me. We’re that close now with being in the play-offs, I want to play and help us qualify for the World Cup. I went to the one in 2007 and that was brilliant, and I’d love to go again. I just want to play as much as a can, people have mentioned chasing Gill’s record which I think is 116 caps. That’s not my sole aim, but I do just want to keep playing.”

Here’s a couple of questions from our Facebook and Twitter friends – How did you start playing football?

‘I started playing for a boys team, after I’d played with my brother and his friends. I pretended to be a boy just to get in the team! After that I got picked by Mill Hill United who had a girl’s team, and it all went from there really. From there I went to Arsenal, then England, and then I went to play in Canada for a while, and then back here to Fulham, and so on!

When I was a kid, I just thought I was the odd one out, because I didn’t really know many girls who were into football. It was only when I went to the girl’s team that I realised just how many girls played football, and how many teams there are around.”

What advice would you give to young girls who want to play?

“I’d just say that you have to enjoy it. There’s no point playing if you’re not, because you play at your best when you enjoy it. Also, it doesn’t matter what level you’re at, you should just give it a go, because there’ll always be people along the way to help you out and give advice.”

Do you see men’s and women’s football as separate sports with different styles?

“Hopefully with the new Super League, this will be a chance to see if they can be recognised as separate sports. I think a lot of people who aren’t familiar with women’s football will compare it to men’s as that’s what they’ll know, but hopefully they’ll be able to see it in its own right. It is a different game, if you’re looking for speed and power you’re not going to get it in the women’s game, but if you watch it with an open mind you’ll see that technically it can be just as good.”

Before we spoke to Rachel, we had a look at her Wikipedia page, which included some interesting ‘facts’. We decided to ask Rachel (“I have a Wikipedia page?!”) whether there was any truth in these claims…

Claim 1: Your role model is Bob The Builder? “No!”

Claim 2: You have chicken and rice before every game? “No! I’ll eat anything.”

Claim 3: Your middle name is Abba because your mum is such a fan of the band?

“My middle name is Abba, but that’s not why! It’s because my dad is Ghanian, and it comes from there. My mum doesn’t like the fact that everyone thinks she’s an Abba fan!”

Thanks to Rachel for chatting to us today, and congratulations again on your 100 caps!

We’re lucky here at Umbro – not only do we get to talk about football all day, but occasionally we get the chance to go out and play as well. Not just at the local 5-a-side, but at the home of football, our national stadium, Wembley. Here’s some pictures of our latest game at the hallowed ground, in which two teams made up of Umbro staff, journalists and celebrities battled it out on the pitch.

Those taking place got the full works – the chance to get changed in the famous dressing rooms, to walk out onto the pitch and sing along to the national anthem before the match, before attempting to do justice to the surroundings. The game finished 5-1 to the ‘away’ team, and there’s been plenty of boasts around the office since the game took place on June 12th.

Also, as these pictures show, Umbro’s England kits can make anyone look like a world beater!

Thankfully, the England team won’t be packing these any time soon…check out the official luggage that Fabio Capello and the boys are using out in South Africa, which is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols. Created in collaboration with Cole Haan, there’s two bags that we’ve made for the players - below left is the messenger bag featuring embossed England crest, while below right is the premium leather holdall. We already knew that England are the most stylish team in South Africa, but with these as well the award is in the bag!

You know football fever has kicked in when the England shirt makes it to the golf course! These are pictures of golfer Paul Casey taking part in a Pro-Am tournament yesterday, wearing his England shirt with pride before the game against Slovakia. Judging by the photo below, Paul has a novel way of getting around the course. And guess where the tournament was? Germany! Let’s hope Paul will still be proudly displaying his alliegences after the next game on Sunday….

Two minutes to kick off, and the players are lined up, facing the crowd, excitement, anxiety and anticipation on their faces. And then, the music kicks in…

The national anthem is as much a part of football culture as the goals, the shirts and the celebrations. It’s something that brings everyone together – the players, the fans in the ground and those watching at home. Regardless of your background, where you’re watching the match or who you’re with, everyone unites to observe, to watch in silence or to sing along.

That’s why we thought the anthem would be perfect for this short film ahead of the action in South Africa. We’ve got 18 everyday people from across England to recreate that moment before kick off, and they all react in different ways, but they’re still all united by the moment. Hopefully, it’ll get both the fans and the players going before we kick off against the USA next Saturday!

As the England team prepare to fly out to South Africa, we’ve got another report from the Umbro team over there, telling us how the country is gearing up to host the world’s biggest football tournament. Here’s Claire in Cape Town with the latest…

“So! We’re now down to single digit days to kick off and Capetonians are getting used to the sight of a complete stadium on their drives to and from work, as depicted above from Ocean View Drive (which also has great views of the city and the harbour by the way).

Cape Town’s streets and suburbs are virtually starting to buzz and hum with activity, excitement and the inevitable vuvuzela* outburst.

* (Reference compliments of Wikipedia):

A vuvuzela, sometimes called a ‘lepatata’ or a stadium horn, is a blowing horn approximately one metre in length and commonly blown by fans at football matches in South Africa. They require some lip and lung strength to blow and emit a loud monotone like a foghorn or an elephant.

South Africans’ excitement is also emerging and being expressed with true African creativity!

A stroll down the fan mile reveals a vibrant ‘Afro-recycled’ tree made from discarded plastic bottles (milk, detergent or fabric softener), which resembles a floral totem pole containing masques and motifs.

You can buy the wares of travelling artists at Greenmarket Square, like this happy piece below:

Those with more intricate beading skills are also diversifying their products to satisfy the hoards of fans that are hopefully going to be looking for some memorabilia to take home as souvenirs….”

Plenty of artistic endeavours taking place in Cape Town! We’ll be catching up with the Umbro team throughout the tournament to see what the tournament is like at street level.

With England in an international football tournament, two things are inevitable: one, that a major player will suffer an injury leading up to the event, causing the country to go into a blind panic and two, that there will be a wave of songs released to commemorate the event. Now that the squad has been finalised we can tick off number one, leaving only the music.

Football and songs don’t have a great history as we all know, apart from a few noble exceptions, so those that do step up and attempt to put their national pride into words and music deserve a pat on the back for bravery alone.

As kit suppliers to the England national team, Umbro gets sent a lot of these songs, and we give all of them a listen. Some, it has to be said, are better than others. Some, we never want to hear again. However, we realise how tricky it must be to come up with something new to say about England, and it’s hard to rhyme things with Capello, so we doff our caps to all the songs that we’ve been sent. Here’s the best of what we’ve received, let us know what you think of everyone’s efforts:

First of all, a totally original effort by Renford Williams. Lions Pride is certainly a catchy number, and it’s full of patriotic references to stir on the listener. Full marks for using a different beat to the usual football song clap-a-long rhythm, which gives the song a summery feel – Chas N Dave singing for England perhaps? What do you think? Give the track a listen and let us know!

Lions Pride by Renford Williams by Umbro

Next up, we’ve got another common type of song – the classic reworked with an England message. The team behind ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ have made a wise choice with their song pick, which already has an optimistic message behind it. Throw in some cheeky references to the England players squeezed into the lyrics, and you’ve got a real singalong ready to go. Give it a spin…

Aint No Stoppin’ Us Now (We’re England) by Errol Kennedy’s Imagination Band by Umbro

Also, there’s another template to follow. Think thumping drums, crowd noises, and chanted vocals from a crowd of singers. Aiming to recreate the sound of the terraces, it can sometimes fall flat, but the England Pub Band have got it right on their song, ‘England We Still Believe’.

England We Still Believe by England Pub Band by Umbro

There’s plenty more England-inspired tracks around this summer, with musical names such as Robbie Williams, Mark E Smith and Clint Boon getting involved. But which are the best that you’ve heard, and which are the worst?!