Puma Match and training kit launched.

[Willis1976]

I have preordered £300 worth, however not got any personalisation. Probably going to return it all for now. Will see what I feel. Might use it for my normal grassroots games/youth, but that £300 could go towards much needed other stuff…

Anyone else already ordered it?

Won't be ordering until the following season as sticking with Nike. Invested too much on Nike kit to wear another brand whilst we still have another year to wear it.

 

[Hilly1618]

Will it naturally follow that at the end of the current FA contract with Nike they will migrate to Puma? A big shift not just for referees but FA staff, FA Referee volunteers ( developers, coaches, observers etc) ?

 

[grey59]

Will it naturally follow that at the end of the current FA contract with Nike they will migrate to Puma? A big shift not just for referees but FA staff, FA Referee volunteers ( developers, coaches, observers etc) ?

Potentially, but last I heard the FA's contract with Nike runs until 2032

 

[JamesL]

Will it naturally follow that at the end of the current FA contract with Nike they will migrate to Puma? A big shift not just for referees but FA staff, FA Referee volunteers ( developers, coaches, observers etc) ?

Not naturally no. In theory the FA could sign back on with Nike if they so wish. They could change to any supplier theoretically.
You could see them going the same way as PGMOL but it's not a dead certainty.

 

[Archer]

Can’t they wave a brown envelope at Mike Cashley and partner with Sondico, save us all hundreds of £ each season

 

[Runner Ref]

Regardless of whether you can/cant/will/won't wear it, it's a hideous looking thing.

Being back the Umbro Diamond kit

 

[Wolf_Ref]

Umbro Wembley still the best referee kit ever. Smart, classy and hard wearing.

 

[ptfcjack]

Potentially, but last I heard the FA's contract with Nike runs until 2032

The FA has a long standing contract with Nike until 2030, so it’s entirely possible and somewhat likely that the grassroots kit will remain Nike until then

 

[Cgvii]

Confirmed by my RDO. It’s going to extended with Nike till 2030 but a new shirt design for 26/27 season. Not sure puma will be very happy, they are advertising their new kit is for grassroots MO’s as well.

 

[ASM]

Confirmed by my RDO. It’s going to extended with Nike till 2030 but a new shirt design for 26/27 season. Not sure puma will be very happy, they are advertising their new kit is for grassroots MO’s as well.

And grassroots referees can use it they wish, just not on games in steps 2-6 of the football pyramid because of the FA contract with Nike.

Beyond that it can be used by referees on anything else, should they wish.

 

[ptfcjack]

It’s poor that the big players like Ref Stop are throwing this kit around like it’s the next big thing for everyone, when it’s just not.

Confirmed by my RDO. It’s going to extended with Nike till 2030 but a new shirt design for 26/27 season. Not sure puma will be very happy, they are advertising their new kit is for grassroots MO’s as well.

Grassroots can obviously wear any brand they like in reality, so they could wear Puma, but as others have said, as step 2-6 MUST wear Nike, most will probably just stay with what they know

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

TO ALL STEP 2 – 6 NLS & LEVEL 3W MATCH OFFICIALS



I hope you are keeping well and able to enjoy a few ‘football free’ weeks as we all prepare for the 2025/26 season.



As many match officials are aware, the PGMOL have recently announced a new kit partnership with PUMA. This comes as part of the Premier League’s multi-year global partnership. Understandably this has raised questions among match officials whom operate outside the PGMOL and as the national governing body it is only appropriate that we provide guidance to all match officials within our family.



The F.A has a current partnership with Nike as the title manufacturer for all of our performance teams and match officials and has provided kit to Step 2-6 and 3W match officials. This is still active and as such all match officials operating within The FA’s remit will be expected to continue to wear the Nike kit that has been previously supplied for the 2025/26 season. This will of course be something that we continue to investigate for future seasons however we hope this communication ahead of the new season provides clarity.



As we are aware those match officials currently operating as a Step 2 Referee will have worn PGMOL kits in previous seasons, a new unbranded Nike black match shirt will be supplied for you. In addition to this, all match officials promoted from Level 5-4 and 4w-3w this summer will also receive kit in line with their colleagues.



We hope this is of assistance.



Kind regards,



Harley Hetherington | National Referee Officer

Never gave me a free shirt at 3W

 

[WalterPinkman]

The Nike match kit and training kit has always looked better for me. Not a fan of the new Puma one.

 

[JamesL]

I seem to recall feeling similar over the current Nike kit. Warmed to it after a while and I'd gotten used to it