Dale appoint new kit manufacturer

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Dale's home kit will carry the same design next season but it will be manufactured by Carbrini and sponsored by Free Bets.

Rochdale football club has ditched Nike as their kit supplier in favour of Carbrini Sportswear, the youth fashion wing of JD Sports.

The club has signed a deal for Carbrini to manufacture Dale's kit for the next three seasons.

The home strip carries the same design as the current blue and black striped number, but it will be made by Carbrini and bear the JD Sports logo on the back of the shirts and shorts.

The away strip, which is all purple, is a completely new design courtesy of Carbrini.

Rochdale AFC, Sales and Marketing Manager Iain Johnstone told the club's official website: "I have been working with JD Sports for several months now and find their range of products and services offer real benefits to the club at every level. Their willingness to work with us and support us as we develop the new kit gives me every confidence that we are working with a business who truly views us a partner."

Meanwhile the new shirts will carry a new sponsor after the club's deal with MMC Estates came to a premature end. Cardiff-based online betting and promotions website 'Free Bets' has taken on the shirt sponsorship for the coming season.

Iain Johnstone continued: "I have spent the last six months trying to find the right sponsor for the club. I believe that the sponsorship with freebets.co.uk is the type of business with a national presence we should be working with."

Players will wear the new kits in all of their pre-season friendlies, while supporters can get their hands on the new kit from the beginning of August.