2011/12 kit announced 7/7/11
Bucking the trend of the previous couple of years, when they had unveiled their new kit in the final game of the previous campaign, United held back on launching their 2011/12 kit until 7 July.
The previous day, club Head of Media, Paul Dews, announced that the club would be releasing news of arrangements shortly, but then photos of the new home shirt, as modelled by club captain Jonny Howson, started circling on Twitter and the truth was accidentally confirmed by Lloyd Sam on his personal Twitter account.
The following day, the club's website carried the official news at the same time as the identity of the new sponsors was revealed.
Leedsunited.com reported as follows: "The kit for 2011/12 is a retro style shirt in white fabric and is influenced by the 1991/92 championship winning season which the club is celebrating this season. The shirt features include the shiny fabric and distinctive royal and yellow tipping on the sleeve. The home kit is launched on Saturday 16th July at 8am from the Elland Road and Online Superstores exclusively."
Jonny Howson toed the party line: "The new kit is something the players always look forward to seeing. All of the lads were wanting a look as soon as it arrived and you feel like the new season's on the way now. It's a great shirt and the start of new things."
The Scratching Shed fansite offered the less flattering comment: "Aside from the enormous cartoon sponsor on the shoulder and the enormous sponsor in the middle and the tacky white shiny material they've made it out of, I think you'll agree this is still one of the worst Leeds United kits ever. Fingers crossed it's a hoax!"
Jagsnorbens tweeted: "Tell Jonny he needs to shave that bum fluff off. He looks like a 15-year-old trying to get into Yates'."
Enterprise Insurance were identified as the new main sponsor. "Enterprise Insurance Company plc was established in 2004 and is based in Gibraltar, one of Europe's leading insurance centres. Enterprise provides a wide range of general insurance products - including motor, household, warranty and legal expenses on a wholesale basis - for client companies in the UK, France, and Greece. In the UK, Enterprise Insurance has over two million customers and provides products to a number of well-known blue chip companies.
"Leeds United Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: 'We are delighted that we have reached an agreement with Enterprise Insurance to become the main club sponsor. It's great to align our brand with a rapidly growing European Insurance company. There was considerable interest in becoming the main club sponsor and we believe that the relationship with Enterprise will deliver significant benefits to the club and our fan base.'
"Commenting on the announcement of the sponsorship, Enterprise Insurance Managing Director, Andrew Flowers, said 'We are delighted to be main sponsor for Leeds United. It's a terrific club with a great history, and an even greater future. On a personal note, as a lifelong supporter of Leeds, the deal has an added significance beyond the undoubted advantages it will bring to both the club, and to us as a company. We are looking forward to playing our part, together with the club management, the team, and the supporters, in the continuing Leeds success story.'
"Part of the new sponsorship deal will involve the launch of a new Leeds United branded portfolio of Insurance Services, in association with Motorway Direct plc, a business partner of Enterprise Insurance. Together the companies have in the region of 5 million insurance clients in the UK.
"The agreement is for an initial one year term and will see all first team playing kit, training wear and replica kit branded with the Enterprise Insurance logo."
The kit was used for first time in the first pre-season friendly, a 2-0 victory at Falkirk on 13 July, when the first goal came rather ingloriously courtesy of Falkirk defender Thomas Scobbie deflecting a cross from Ramon Nunez past his own keeper after 36 minutes. Rob Snodgrass was the first Leeds man to score in the new strip 18 minutes later with a header.
Bucking the trend of the previous couple of years, when they had unveiled their new kit in the final game of the previous campaign, United held back on launching their 2011/12 kit until 7 July.
The previous day, club Head of Media, Paul Dews, announced that the club would be releasing news of arrangements shortly, but then photos of the new home shirt, as modelled by club captain Jonny Howson, started circling on Twitter and the truth was accidentally confirmed by Lloyd Sam on his personal Twitter account.
The following day, the club's website carried the official news at the same time as the identity of the new sponsors was revealed.
Leedsunited.com reported as follows: "The kit for 2011/12 is a retro style shirt in white fabric and is influenced by the 1991/92 championship winning season which the club is celebrating this season. The shirt features include the shiny fabric and distinctive royal and yellow tipping on the sleeve. The home kit is launched on Saturday 16th July at 8am from the Elland Road and Online Superstores exclusively."
Jonny Howson toed the party line: "The new kit is something the players always look forward to seeing. All of the lads were wanting a look as soon as it arrived and you feel like the new season's on the way now. It's a great shirt and the start of new things."
The Scratching Shed fansite offered the less flattering comment: "Aside from the enormous cartoon sponsor on the shoulder and the enormous sponsor in the middle and the tacky white shiny material they've made it out of, I think you'll agree this is still one of the worst Leeds United kits ever. Fingers crossed it's a hoax!"
Jagsnorbens tweeted: "Tell Jonny he needs to shave that bum fluff off. He looks like a 15-year-old trying to get into Yates'."
Enterprise Insurance were identified as the new main sponsor. "Enterprise Insurance Company plc was established in 2004 and is based in Gibraltar, one of Europe's leading insurance centres. Enterprise provides a wide range of general insurance products - including motor, household, warranty and legal expenses on a wholesale basis - for client companies in the UK, France, and Greece. In the UK, Enterprise Insurance has over two million customers and provides products to a number of well-known blue chip companies.
"Leeds United Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: 'We are delighted that we have reached an agreement with Enterprise Insurance to become the main club sponsor. It's great to align our brand with a rapidly growing European Insurance company. There was considerable interest in becoming the main club sponsor and we believe that the relationship with Enterprise will deliver significant benefits to the club and our fan base.'
"Commenting on the announcement of the sponsorship, Enterprise Insurance Managing Director, Andrew Flowers, said 'We are delighted to be main sponsor for Leeds United. It's a terrific club with a great history, and an even greater future. On a personal note, as a lifelong supporter of Leeds, the deal has an added significance beyond the undoubted advantages it will bring to both the club, and to us as a company. We are looking forward to playing our part, together with the club management, the team, and the supporters, in the continuing Leeds success story.'
"Part of the new sponsorship deal will involve the launch of a new Leeds United branded portfolio of Insurance Services, in association with Motorway Direct plc, a business partner of Enterprise Insurance. Together the companies have in the region of 5 million insurance clients in the UK.
"The agreement is for an initial one year term and will see all first team playing kit, training wear and replica kit branded with the Enterprise Insurance logo."
The kit was used for first time in the first pre-season friendly, a 2-0 victory at Falkirk on 13 July, when the first goal came rather ingloriously courtesy of Falkirk defender Thomas Scobbie deflecting a cross from Ramon Nunez past his own keeper after 36 minutes. Rob Snodgrass was the first Leeds man to score in the new strip 18 minutes later with a header.