English Premier League team Stoke City has entered into a three-year partnership with base layer garments manufacturer Skins – a deal the club believes to be the first of its kind in English football.
As Stoke’s official compression partner, Skins will supply its clothing to the club’s first team and academy players and coaching staff, with the agreement commencing from next season.
Skins compression clothing is designed to help reduce exercise induced muscle damage. It works by increasing circulation and therefore accelerating the delivery of oxygen to muscles.
“We are always looking to innovate and create new partnerships at Stoke City and we believe this will be the first partnership of its kind in football, giving us a competitive edge in the industry,” Stoke City’s head of commercial Andrew Billingham said.
The deal with Stoke also marks new ground for Skins, which has an established presence in rugby union with the Australian national team and English Premiership clubs Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs. It also supplies international athletes in alpine skiing, cycling and triathlon.
Stoke is set to secure its first ever top-half finish in the Premier League when the English top-flight season concludes this weekend.