Castore "Face Losing More Football Clubs"
Oct 3, 2023, by Chris
Castore, the sportswear manufacturer under fire currently, are in danger of losing more football clubs as complaints about their kits and other merchandise continue to mount. This is reported by The Telegraph, which apparently have a close connection to English teams sponsored by the brand.
Castore have been the subject of an unprecedented uproar in recent days over the Aston Villa 'wet-look' shirt fiasco.
Castore-Sponsored Clubs Face Smaller and Bigger Problems With Castore
A Telegraph Sport investigation have revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers experienced similar issues with their Castore kit last season, while Charlton Athletic have held talks about their partnership with the firm due to fan complaints. Other clubs have also reported issues with the quality of match or replica shirts, late delivery of training gear, or official merchandise for supporters.
Castore Kit Problems Found by The Telegraph
- Last season, Wolverhampton Wanderers faced problems with their Castore kit, which is similar to the issues Aston Villa is currently experiencing
- Charlton Athletic are reportedly in talks to end the deal with the company due to complaints from fans
- Many clubs have experienced delays in the delivery of training gear for players, official merchandise, and quality issues with the match or replica shirts
- Castore have reached out to their other partner clubs this week to ensure they are satisfied with their jerseys
Castore have spoken to their other clubs to ensure they are happy with their jerseys. Many of them said that they have "become too big, too quickly", but there also has been praise for their bespoke designs.
An official from one club became exasperated when asked if they had experienced any issues with Castore, replying: "How long have you got? I've been working in professional football for 20 years and it’s really bad, to be honest; it’s really poor. Goodness me, I wouldn’t know where to start, really."
Do you think that Castore will be able to turn things around and rival Adidas, Nike, Puma as well as smaller brands like Umbro, Hummel and Macron? Let us know in the comments below.
J.League x Pokémon: 60 Clubs, 60 Pokémon
The J.League has announced one of its most creative collaboration yet, teaming up with Pokémon for the 'Pokémon J.League Fest 'EVOLUTION!'' campaign ahead of the 2026-27 season.
All 60 clubs across J1, J2 and J3 have been paired with their own Pokémon, with the campaign following each Pokémon's evolution throughout the season across official artwork, graphics and promotional content.
The collaboration also celebrates 30 years of Pokémon (1996-2026) while building excitement for the new J.League campaign, which kicks off on 7 August.
Fans attending matches will receive one of one million exclusive EVO BAGs, each featuring Pikachu alongside the home club's partner Pokémon.
This isn't the first crossover between the two either. Back in 2014, the J.League and Pokémon launched the Family Join Days campaign, where young supporters received exclusive Pikachu trading cards at stadiums.
If your favorite club could be paired with any Pokémon, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments below.
Hoffenheim Call Out Twitter Accounts Promoting Fake Kits
German club TSG Hoffenheim has taken a humorous approach to address a growing trend on social media involving the promotion of counterfeit football shirts. The club's official account posted a sarcastic message mimicking the exact language used by accounts that advertise fake kits. The post claimed to have found a really cool site for authentic shirts of top quality and insisted the endorsement was entirely voluntary, before directing users to a link in the replies.
Instead of linking to a counterfeit retailer, Hoffenheim's reply simply provided the URL to their official club shop. The joke directly targets a widespread practice on social media where various football-focused accounts promote unauthorized replica stores. In exchange for posting these scripted advertisements, the account owners typically receive a small number of free fake kits, valued at around 35 Euros, rather than monetary compensation.
1. FC Nürnberg 26-27 Home Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
The first real pictures of the 1. FC Nürnberg 2026-27 home kit have been leaked online by @Bundesleaker. Made by Adidas, the new FC Nürnberg 2026-27 home jersey will be worn in the UPCOMING 2. Bundesliga season.
Iwate Grulla Morioka 26-27 Home, Away & Goalkeeper Kits Released
Japan Football League team Iwate Grulla Morioka have unveiled new kit collection for 2026-27 season. The designs are made by famous English brand Umbro.
The four kits share two different templates: The white home kit and pink goalkeeper home kit features 3-D diagonal graphic with gradient effect, whereas the red away kit and yellow goalkeeper away kit use outlined stripes along with black and white details.
What do you think of Iwate Grulla Morioka 2026-27 kits? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Koper FC 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Slovenian PrvaLiga runners-up Koper FC have introduced their three new kits for 2026-27 season, partner with Macron for the 7th consecutive season.
The home kit featuring a striking yellow base with liquid-like pattern and blue trims. The same design is applied for the third kit, using black and gold as its colorway.
The away kit, on the other hand, uses a reverse pallete compared to the home kit, adding the city's skyline graphic across the chest.
What do you think of Koper FC 2026-27 kits? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.