The FA
The Football Association (FA) is the governing body of English football. Founded in 1863 to create a standardised set of rules for the game, the FA’s formation marked the birth of modern football and the starting pistol for football as a global phenomenon.
Today, The FA administers domestic competitions, such as the FA Cup, the WFA Cup and the men’s and women’s national teams.
Ranked fourth (men’s) and second (women’s) in the FIFA standings, England is one of the world’s top footballing nations, with significant successes in the game, most recently winning the Women’s EUROS in 2022.
Client requirements
The Football Association required a trusted partner to provide high-quality, officially licensed letter, number, and sleeve badges for its various teams and competitions. The FA needed a supplier who could:
- Consistently deliver products meeting the exacting standards required for international competition and high-profile domestic tournaments.
- Adapt to evolving design requirements to maintain and enhance the global appeal of English football.
- Support the growth and professionalisation of women’s football with dedicated products.
- Ensure smooth global launches of new designs across multiple competitions and national teams.
- Provide different technical solutions for various applications, from international team kits to domestic cup competitions.
How we helped
Since 2002, Elms has been the official, licensed manufacturer and supplier of The FA’s letter, number, and sleeve badges, marking over two decades of trusted partnership.
Throughout this long-standing relationship, we have consistently met The FA’s evolving needs, culminating in England enjoying one of their largest financial years to date with near-record sales for the current crop of England jerseys, customised with Elms’ letters and numbers.
Our partnership began with supplying badges for the men’s national team and FA Cup, but has grown significantly over the years. A key milestone was our support for the first-ever Women’s International Letter and Number program, which culminated in producing the kit worn during England’s triumphant European Championship victory in 2022.
Today, our comprehensive product range for the FA includes sleeve badges for both men’s and women’s FA Cups, letters and numbers for both England men’s and women’s teams, and letters and numbers for the Women’s Professional Game (WPG), including the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
· FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup badges are produced using Senscilia Direct™
· Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship products were created with Pro S technology
· England letters and numbers are manufactured using Flexnet™
As The FA’s exclusive licensee for these products, we work closely with their Brand and Kit departments to ensure successful global launch programs for new designs. Our ability to adapt to The FA’s evolving requirements has been crucial in maintaining and enhancing the global appeal of English football branding.
Through our enduring partnership, Elms has played a vital role in shaping the visual identity of English football across multiple competitions and national teams, contributing to The FA’s status as one of the most recognisable brands in world football.
What they say
