The original British sportswear brand, Admiral’s manufacturing history runs the gamut from Royal Navy contracts, to Gordon Banks’ 1966 shirt, all the way through to their current support of grassroots football with Victoria Park Vixens and Walthamstow FC. Perhaps their greatest contribution of all, is making the first commercially available replica shirt to sell to fans. Certain Admiral kits garner much admiration in the community, with their scarcity and classic design ensuring they remain amongst the most valuable vintage kits on the market.
However, one aspect of Admiral Sportswear’s history slips under the radar – the work they do within the music world. For the best part of several decades, Admiral have worked with a plethora of influential figures within the music world to tell stories through football’s most recognisable garment, the humble shirt. This niche part of their history is perhaps what cements Admiral’s position in the lifestyle market and spurred the launch of their official lifestyle branch, Admiral Sporting Goods Co, in 2020.
Above the counter of The Modfather in Brighton sits one of Admiral’s most recent collaborations, a shirt made with Paul Weller’s The Jam. Reminiscent of the Admiral England 1980-83 kit, the shirt celebrates The Jam’s era-defining sound and their intrinsic link to British culture. Weller’s later exploits with The Style Council also received the Admiral treatment, turning out a shirt in ode of TSC’s more-global looking influences.
Admiral’s hit-list of partners reads like a dream festival line up, headlined by The Rolling Stones’s Red number (1998 Bridges to Babylon Tour) and the Happy Monday’s fluorescent yellow rave kit (1990-92 tour). Legendary DJ Norman Jay MBE’s love of Tottenham Hotspur inspired his partnership with Admiral, with Jay having a particular fondness for the Admiral sponsored Spurs kits of the 70’s.
Their unwavering support of the music scene extended to up-and-comers too, with the last few years seeing partnerships with The Reyton’s, who paid ode to their hometown of Sheffield, immortalising the Steel City in a Home and Away shirt. Australian rock-band DMA’s are hugely influenced by Britpop, and the culture and fashion surrounding the music led them to partner with Admiral on a kit exclusively available on their website to support the launch of their latest album.
