Yahoo News Stoke City confirm kit decision as old boy lands new job in League One
Stoke City's kit will be made by Macron for the next three seasons.
The home strip for 2024/25 has already been revealed, one of the earliest launches in the country this summer, and the club is reporting record sales. That already made it the longest deal that the club has ever had with the same kit supplier - taking over from Asics - and now a collaboration has been continued until at least the end of 2026/27.
Chief operating officer Simon King said: “Macron have consistently proven to be an innovative, trusted and commercially viable partner who share our passion to create kits Stoke City players and supporters can wear with pride. The recent launch of our 24/25 home kit further illustrated the ongoing success of the partnership with more shirts sold over the course of the launch weekend than any other Championship season on record.
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“The ability to design completely bespoke kits year-on-year remains critical to our long-standing collaboration with Macron. We will be taking that a step further for the 25/26 home kit which has effectively been designed by our supporters via a fan assembly on the subject. We look forward to building on the strong relationship which has served the partnership so well to date in the years to come.”
There is a bit more about how fans have helped design the kit for 2025/26 here.
Gianluca Pavanello, Macron chief executive, said: “Our decade-long relationship proves that we work well together and share the same sporting values. The history of the Potters goes hand in hand with that of English football and it is exciting for us to continue providing them with teamwear that satisfies the players’ technical and performance needs and gives supporters a clear sense of belonging."
Stoke will hold their next fan assembly on Wednesday, June 26 (6.30pm-8.30pm) to discuss how to shape the match day experience.
A statement from the club said: "The event will explore with supporters what they want from their fan zone, as well as other areas of the bet365 Stadium during the build-up to kick-off and beyond. Suggestions on how the club and fans come together to create a red and white wall of atmosphere and partisan support from behind the Caldwell Construction Stand goal will also provide a key topic of conversation on the night."
You can register to attend here.
Melvyn Downes on the march
SAS sergeant major turned TV star Melvyn Downs is marching from Newcastle United to Stoke City over seven days to raise awareness and funds for Stoke City Community Trust and mental well being services.
He is speed marching 365km in a mission called Mission365, heading south via Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. It's 55km per day, with other challenges and activities thrown in for good measure.
The Stoke fan will be joined by what has been described as "a specially selected group of celebrity friends and volunteers" and the team will set off on Saturday, August 17. You can donate here.
New job for Martin Paterson
Good luck to Martin Paterson, who is back in work just a couple of weeks after leaving Burton Albion.
The 37-year-old former Stoke forward had a brief taste of life as a manager when he took on the big challenge of trying to keep Burton in League One. He was appointed in January on a short-term contract and has been replaced by former Chelsea youth coach Mark Robinson following a club takeover.
Paterson has now gone to Huddersfield Town as coach, reunited with Michael Duff, who he worked alongside at Barnsley and Swansea.
Duff said: "Martin is a person and coach I know really well from the past too, with an established working relationship and understanding in place, so I’m delighted to have him alongside us once again as well. We’re only a few weeks away from the players retuning for the start of pre-season with our first friendly later this month too, and I couldn’t be hungrier and more excited to get the hard work started out on the grass.”
Tom Sparrow could fly north
Motherwell want to sign departing Stoke midfielder Tom Sparrow, according to the Sun.
The 21-year-old got a taste of the first team with Stoke as an emergency wing-back in 2022 and had a spell on loan at Alex Neil's old club Hamilton Academical last year, as well as spending time on loan at Chester.
Fellow youth graduate right-back Tom Nixon, aged 22, has joined Doncaster Rovers from Hull.
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Under-21s pre-season fixtures
Stoke have confirmed pre-season friendlies for the under-21s, including a behind closed doors clash with Arsenal.
The youngsters will start their summer warm-up with an away match at Kidsgrove Athletic before travelling with Steven Schumacher's first team for a training week in Cork. That will be followed by trips to Leek Town, Newcastle Town and Kidderminster Harriers. They will host Bolton Wanderers before rounding off pre-season at Arsenal.
Friday, July 12: Kidsgrove Athletic vs Stoke City U21s (kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday, July 24: Leek Town vs Stoke City U21s (kick-off 7.30pm)
Sunday, July 28: Newcastle Town vs Stoke City U21s (kick-off 2pm)
Saturday, August 3: Kidderminster Harriers vs Stoke City (kick-off 2pm)
Tuesday, August 6: Stoke City vs Bolton Wanderers U21s (kick-off TBC)
Saturday, August 10: Arsenal U21s vs Stoke City U21s (kick-off 3pm)
