So far, we’ve been exploring the actual style of football played in 5-a-side and futsal as part of our new Umbro Vs range, but today we’re looking at something a little different – how the players like to look good on and off the pitch. There’s a real difference of opinion on this – some players like to look at their best when they step onto the pitch, whereas others prefer to let their talent do the talking.

It’s this idea that’s inspired the latest Todd James cartoon clip we can reveal here today. Exploring how some of the players we interviewed in São Paulo are more concerned about their aftershave than the result of their match, it’s a great insight into the culture of futsal – enjoy!

A new season, new players in the squad, new hope for your team – and a new theme for our Friday football puns! To kick off this season, we gave you the challenge of Computer Footballers, and you certainly delivered. Here’s our pick of the best suggestions, but thanks to everyone who put a pun or two forward, there were plenty of excellent ones – and a fair few terrible ones as well! Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook pages every Friday for the latest theme if you want to get involved…

Taking a closer look at the new Manchester City kits for 2010/2011 after revealing them on Monday, we wanted to highlight some of the extra special aspects of these kits that you’ll soon be able to see in close up on the pitch.

Shay Given and Joe Hart will be battling it out for the No.1 jersey for City this year, but whoever catches it will be wearing this all black jersey. Apart from the colour, the shirt is identical to the club’s new home kit, complete with elements such as the pinstripe on the front panel, and the sharp performance pieces included in each of the three components. This helps to make the statement that, although he stands out as a specialist on the pitch, the keeper is an essential part of the same unit as the outfield player.

For both home and away, City’s shorts this year will have a smart tonal look. With the club’s crest and the Umbro logo in the same colour as the shorts, they’ll look smart and stylish as part of the whole kit. The shorts are also shaped ergonomically to make them as comfortable as possible for the players on the pitch.

It’s the socks that have been getting the most attention amongst City’s fans though! The home socks have caught the eyes thanks to a maroon stripe, a nod to some of the club’s classic kits from the early 1990s. On the away kit, a striking set of sky blue hoops cuts through the navy blue, an element that brings the club’s home colours away with the club when they travel, whilst also offering increased visability on the pitch.

It’s these elements, along with the white cuffs on the club’s home shirt that are directly inspired by City’s 1960s and 1970s heyday, that exemplify the depth of detail that goes into the kits. Tailored by Umbro, we hope they’ll inspire the players and fans onto success in the forthcoming season. For more pictures of all elements of the new Manchester City kits, take a look at our special set over on Flickr.

After revealing their home shirt earlier this year, we’re excited to be able to unveil the new Rangers away shirt which will be worn by the SPL and League Cup champions throughout the 2010/2011 season. The shirts will be worn by the Glasgow giants as they aim to defend their domestic trophies and progress in the Champions League.

Following the Tailored by Umbro principles of smartness combined with the best in football technology, the new Rangers away kit is made from 100% tetra cotton, with a smart single button collar. In vermillion and white stripes with a warp knit design. Paired with royal blue shorts and red socks topped with a white stripe, the whole Rangers away shirt should ensure that the team are the most stylish team in the SPL. Tailored by Umbro, and worn with pride in Glasgow and beyond.

Any England fan will be feeling disappointed today, so we thought it might be good to look into the future, at a player who’s been showing plenty of promise in his native north east. Luke Williams, who turned 17 earlier this month, made his Middlesbrough debut last year, whilst also being part of the England squad that won the Under-17 European Championships earlier this year. He recently visited Umbro’s HQ, so we sat down with him for a quick chat about everything that’s been happening around him recently…

How did you feel about making your debut?

“I was really nervous! But getting on the pitch was brilliant. Everything seems so far away when you’re on the pitch, the crowd and all the noise seems like it’s on top of you, so it’s quite scary.

I’d been on the bench a few times, and I was supposed to make my debut at home against Blackpool, but someone else got injured so I missed out on that occasion. The week after that against Barnsley, I was on the bench and the manager said ‘go get warmed up and make sure you run’, so I thought I’d probably be coming on then!

Afterwards, it was mad. To go home and look at the paper and see myself on the back page, it’s just surreal.”

Why did you decide to sign with Middlesbrough?

“I’ve supported Middlesbrough all my life, and my family all support Middlesbrough, so it was a pretty easy decision to make. There was a few other clubs interested, but when Middlesbrough came in it didn’t matter. They’re also a good club to be at as a youngster. They’ve given me an opportunity already which you might not have got at another club.”

What are your ambitions for next season?

“For next season, my ambition is just to establish myself in the squad, do what I’ve been doing in training and try to establish myself in the first team.

For the team, the ambition for next season is definitely promotion. We thought we could’ve done it this season, but this year we definitely believe that we can do it. The gaffer has just instilled that in us more.”

What was it like to get called up into the England squad?

“I got my first call up for England at the start of this season, for the qualifiers for the Euros. Going over for the Euros, that was only the second time I’d been called up.

To wear the England shirt in a proper match, it’s just brilliant. I’ve got them all at home! We were in Leichenstein for the finals. We did celebrate when we won, not that I can say much about that!”

What do you get up to outside of football?

“We still go to college every Wednesday, that’s part of my scholarship. Apart from football, it’s just a normal life really, playing on the Xbox with my friends, winning all the time! The main games we have are FIFA, Fight Night, and we play Call Of Duty online all the time. Although I’ve broken a few controllers doing that! I still live with my mum, and she definitely tries to keep my feet on the ground, makes me do the jobs round the house.”

What would you do if a big Premier League club came and wanted you to sign for them?

“I’d probably want to stay at Middlesbrough, even if a big club came in. I’m still pretty young, staying with my family, and the club’s on the up at the moment. So I’d like to stay and help get them back into the Premier League.”

We’ve already revealed our very exciting pop-up store in New York, in collaboration with hip trainer (sorry, sneaker) store Alife Rivington Club. This week, the place got even cooler thanks to the appearance of top rapper Drake, who appeared at Alife to celebrate the launch of his debut album, Thank Me Now.

The space, as you can see from the pictures, was absolutely rammed for the event, with the cream of New York’s hip hop community cramming into the space to hear Drake and to check out the Umbro gear on display.

Drake is seriously hot property in the hip hop world at the moment, having recently supported Jay-Z on his UK tour. He was joined by other luminaries at the show, such as DJ A-Trak, who tours with Kanye West – and of course, Umbro’s World Champions Collection! For more pictures from the event, check out the Umbro Flickr stream.

The latest in our regular Friday puntastic football teams, this week we asked you to come up with your finest Gardening Footballers. Why? Well, it’s May, so people will be gardening soon, and it’s the Chelsea Flower Show in a few weeks, and…. well, that’s it. Still, it seemed a popular choice, with plenty of suggestions pouring out of your pun-filled brains. Soil Campbell had to go in, because almost everyone suggested him! But did any of your other ones appear? Take a look and find out, and keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook next Friday to see what we come up with next…

With the Grand National taking place tomorrow, we thought we’d add a little horse-play to Friday afternoons and ask you for your best equestrian-based puns. As usual we got a great response, with our favourites included in the first team above. Thanks to all the suggestions sent in via Twitter and Facebook, and keep your eyes peeled for another theme soon!

When I left you a week ago it was with the added suspense of a cliffhanger ending, Ramsay Street style. What would happen in the Giganten Brodre game? Would they win their match? Would they score enough goals to exceed Howard’s Juicebox’s goal difference? Who knows?

I do. Their match last week ended in triumph, with the scoreline being 3-0, after we had won 5-2 earlier in the night, the goal difference remained the same and so we remained at the table’s mount. So we were able to live another week like champions, all of us buying sports cars and getting silly haircuts.

On our way over to this week’s match, Kilshaw painfully reminded me of my mistake last week that lead to us conceding a goal. I tried to justify myself with the goal and the assist that I bagged but he was having none of it. I promised there would be no more of that tonight. No tomfoolery in my kitbag. I was to be a bastion of consistency.

Giganten Brodre’s game would be played earlier than ours this evening, offering us an insight into their game style whilst we warmed up pitchside. They scored two great goals and then went on to concede two sloppy ones, with the score ending 2-2. It lifted them top by a point, but their faces were full of disappointment as they left the field, they knew it was two points dropped. You could see the shakiness of their team spirit as they argued after the match. Not something you would ever come across in the Juicebox camp, we win together and lose together, something you won’t find in the manufactured team of Brodre.

Tonight’s match would pit us against Randoms Utd, a team built by the organiser of the whole league, would that cue any biased refereeing? We lined up with the knowledge that a victory would put us 2 points clear at the top, whilst a loss would leave us stranded in third place.

We set upon the pitch, but what was this? Giganten Brodre were lending their keeper to Randoms Utd for the evening! Another unfair advantage stacking the odds against Howard’s Juicebox. I wouldn’t be that bothered if this was an ordinary keeper, but this guy had trials with Bournemouth!

We opened proceedings and it didn’t take long for Jack the Ripper to strike again. Taking it past a player and then megging another, before smashing a thunderbolt into the top corner! 1-0! Victory was well within our sights and we had been playing for less than five minutes. Thats the kind of short sighted attitude that can lead to conceding goals, which is exactly what happened next.

Our back line was all over the shop, leaving the door right open for a sloppy equaliser. Caught on the break, two men against one, Alex was wrong-footed and we were back at square one, square 1-1, if you will? We huffed and puffed for the rest of the first period, but we couldn’t blow their house down. Olly was guilty of missing a few golden opportunities, but thats just standard procedure these days.

For the majority of the second period it was much of the same, a lot of effort without much to show for it, on a positive note we were definitely bossing the play. One notable attack was a solo run from Locky, who took the ball from our defence all the way into a one-on-one with their keeper, but their “on-loan” keeper managed to parry his rasping effort onto the crossbar and out for a throw-in.

The referee signaled that there was around a minute of the match left to play and we knew that time was against us. The other team were playing for a draw and it was obvious. It didn’t look like we would be able to muster a goal, but then out of nowhere we were handed a lifeline. Jack played Kilshaw into the box and he took a touch of the ball, before being more or less assassinated. A two-footed challenge brought him down and the ref had little choice but to give the penalty.

From the sidelines it looked as if Rob was stepping up, David and I screamed in protest, surely Jack was the man for the job? But Rob buried it and we were 2-1 up, with what surely must have been the last kick of the game. Surely?

Apparently not, what followed next was what can only be considered an outrageous amount of injury time, five minutes in a match that only lasts thirty minutes in total is ridiculous no? Remember earlier I mentioned we were playing the organisers of the league? And that there might be a spot of favourism from the referee? Make your own minds up…

Within this highly excessive amount of injury time, we managed to give away a corner to Randoms Utd. Amid the confusion of the corner, Kilshaw managed to lose his man and they slipped in an equaliser from the tightest of angles. 2-2. The final whistle rang in our ears.

We lost 2 points, but it felt more like we had each lost a winning lottery ticket or even a ligament. Robbed by biased refereeing and a team housing our main rival’s goalkeeper. But we were partly at fault, we crumbled in the dying seconds and paid the ultimate price. We remain top of the table, but still only thanks to goals scored.

It leaves it all hanging in the balance for next weeks match. We face Giganten Brodre, the team masterminded by my flat mate Olly G. We sit at the top of the table even on points. It is sure to be a real nail-biting classic, so make sure you hang around for a pint…

Lots of people have already commented on how much they like Manchester City’s kits this season – Noel Gallagher even said that ‘even if we don’t win anything this season, we’ll be the best looking team in the league’ when he saw them for the first time.

It seems that shirt enthusiasts agree. Earlier this week, the results of a poll to find the most popular Premier League kit of 2009-10 were revealed on True Colours Football Kits, one of our favourite websites. Comments such as ‘classically simple design’ have been mentioned more than a few times, and it’s great to see that people are appreciating the work that Umbro have done – even fans of other teams!

City’s shirt has also been going strong in another poll. Football-shirts.co.uk have held a long-running poll to find the most popular Premier League shirt amongst their fans, with two Umbro shirts battling their way into the final. Manchester City are up against Blackburn Rovers for the title, with voting open until April 18th. If you fancy having a say in the big decision, you can vote for your favourite here.