About
The History of Mitre
1817
In 1817, Benjamin Crook started a small Leather Tannery in Huddersfield, a town in the North of England. 181 years later, as ‘Mitre Sports International UK LTD’, the same Company is known the World over for its sporting goods and footwear. Symbols of quality in sports equipment, its footballs are used wherever the game is played.
1880
MITRE started using its expertise in leather for football and rugby in the 1880s when the games became established. Over the years, through acquisitions and expansions, MITRE has widened its activities to include the manufacture at various times of Squash, Badminton and Tennis Racquets, Billiard Tables, Golf Clubs and Fitness equipment, besides Balls, Bags and Cricket equipment.
1960
In the 1960s Grampian Holdings PLC, a Scottish Group with a portfolio of sports brands, acquired Mitre from the Crook family. The subsequent expansion saw the Company add Sports Footwear manufacturing to its other activities and begin to add an International dimension to its well-established home market.
1966
Mitre signed Dennis Law to be the flagship of its new apparel range. Dennis also wore MITRE soccer boots and commented: -
‘What this country needs is a good British football boot and now it’s got one. Mitre are the smartest, fastest, hardest kicking boots that I have ever come across’
Mitre soccer balls were used in the F.A. Cup final in this year, the game is between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday, with Everton winning the prestigious trophy.
1978
In 1978, MITRE, which was ‘bursting out’ of the premises it had occupied for 160 years, moved to larger ones nearby. This made possible a complete re-organisation of its manufacturing operations and transfer of all the footwear, accessories, cricket, soft leather, bags, ball preparations and stitching operations previous divided between six factories, into one location.
The re-organisation was completed without losing the unique core of expertise and craftsmen that assured the quality of Mitre products.
1984
In 1984, MITRE introduced the distinctive Delta-designed ball, increasing the presence of the brand in all of the sports that MITRE is involved.
1986
In 1986, Mitre entered the Japanese market, and with initial concentration on its key product areas – soccer and rugby – made significant inroads into this large but demanding market.
1987
Mitre signed an agreement to become the Official Rugby Ball supplier to the Rugby Union World Cup – this was the first time that such a deal had taken place.
1992
Mitre become the Official Match and training ball supplier to the newly formed F.A. Premier league. Some of the World’s best soccer clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool used MITRE soccer balls.
1995
Effective August 1995, Pentland Industries PLC acquired full ownership of Mitre Sports International UK.
Mitre signed the Major League Soccer contract, ensuring that the Mitre ball is used by all the pro soccer clubs in the USA, giving the brand massive exposure in the fast expanding US market.
1996
Mitre became the official rugby ball supplier to the World famous Springboks (South African Rugby Union).
1997
In 1997, Agreement was reached with the South African Premier League and Mitre is now official ball supplier to the League.
Mitre also becomes the official ball supplier to Fiorentina and Sampdoria two of the greatest teams in Italian football.
Mitre signed the Scottish referees playing kit contract in 1997, ensuring that the man in the middle was wearing Mitre.
1998
In 1998, Mitre reached another milestone by becoming the first company to supply all 132 Professional Football Clubs in the UK.
Mitre added Dutch Premier league sides Heerenveen and FC Twente to its growing stable of International soccer clubs using the Mitre Ultimax football.
1999
Belgian soccer club champions KRC Genk choose to use the Mitre Ultimax – ensuring the MITRE ball is seen by millions of fans in the UEFA Champions League tournament.
The Italian Rugby Union team enters the Six Nations tournament, and although massive underdogs win their opening game against Scotland in Rome.
David James the Aston Villa goalkeeper is signed to wear Mitre gloves and apparel. During his first season wearing MITRE gloves, Aston Villa get to the F.A. Cup Final and David is recalled into the England squad!!
2001
Mitre introduces its new Comet logo, that replaces the Mitre Delta logo that has featured for the brand for over 20 years. The change in logo marks the start of a long term marketing programme to help change the perception of the mitre brand.
After nearly 200 years at the original headquarters in Huddersfield, the company relocates to a new modern office facility in Wilmslow, Manchester, England. The move is designed to help facilitate a change in brand culture, moving out of the traditional base to a vibrant, exciting city packed with sports facilities and International transport links.
At the same time the Mitre warehouse in Huddersfield is closed and the brand moved to the state of the art Pentland Group warehousing facility in Blackburn, England.
Mitre renews its contract with The Football League, which is the UK’s most popular live sporting event with nearly 4 million people watching Football League matches each week.
Mitre also extends its contract with the prestigious Scottish Premier League, ensuring that the Mitre football will be used for several more seasons.
Neil Sullivan, the Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland Goalkeeper is signed to wear Mitre goalkeeping gloves. During his first season wearing Mitre gloves Neil is voted Tottenham Hotspur player of the Season.
Mitre secures the rights to the 2003 World Netball Championship, and a successful launch is held at the International Federation of Netball Associations annual general meeting in Singapore.
The 2001 FA Cup final is played using the new Mitre ISO Final ball, the first Mitre ball to be used featuring the new Mitre comet logo. Liverpool win the game 2-1 after Arsenal dominate the game – Michael Owen is the hero of the day scoring both Liverpool goals at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
