From the England national team on pitch in iconic tournaments such as Italia ’90, Euro ’96 and France ’98 to Liam Gallagher strolling out on stage at Maine Road in a questionably obtained Umbro drill top, the Double Diamond pretty much epitomised football both on and off the pitch in the nineties.
Umbro. One word, two diamonds, and a legacy that defined a generation. Cast your mind back to the 90s—England on the brink of glory, Oasis blasting out of battered stereos, curtains coupled with undercuts and Oakleys on every street corner, and Umbro reigning supreme across stadiums and stages alike. The Double Diamond wasn’t just a logo—it was a symbol of an era. A badge of football authenticity that bled into music, fashion, and youth culture with effortless cool.
From the pitch to the pavement, if the 80s laid the groundwork, then the 90s were the main event. Football exploded, and Umbro was strapped to its rocket. Italia ’90 brought Gazza’s tears and a nation falling back in love with the game. Euro ’96 was a homecoming party full of hope, heartache, and howls at the sky. France ’98 gave us drama, flair, and a reminder that football is, and always will be, theatre.
And running through it all, like a slick through-ball in a Sunday League match, was the Double Diamond. From Peter Beardsley’s baggy England kit to David Beckham’s fresh-faced debut in Umbro threads, the brand wasn’t just in the background—it was the background. Umbro kitted out 11 of the original 22 Premier League clubs when the competition launched in ‘92. That’s half the league in one brand’s offerings—a ridiculous stat that feels near-impossible in today’s world of fragmented sponsorships and hyper-branding.
This was a time when kits were more than just uniforms. They were statements. The Pro Training range became street uniform for lads up and down the country. Tracksuit tops zipped up to the chin, drill tops slung over shoulders. Umbro was football fashion before football fashion even had a name.
And then came that night. April, 1996. Oasis. Maine Road. Liam Gallagher. An Umbro Drill Top.
If football had been creeping into the culture conversation, this was the moment it kicked the door off its hinges. Gallagher—frontman, icon, pure swagger—walked out on stage in what fan whispers would later have as a “questionably obtained” piece of Umbro gold from the Man City changing rooms. A Pro Training Drill Top, worn with zero irony and 100 percent intent. A bold, brash middle finger to the fashion establishment, and a defining image that sits comfortably alongside Gazza’s tears and Three Lions on the shirt.
In that moment, football and music weren’t just associates—they were blood brothers. Gallagher didn’t just wear the top. He owned it. He made it high fashion without even trying, because that was the 90s way. That Umbro Drill Top became a totem of Britpop cool, football fandom, and anti-fashion fashion all at once.
Fast forward to now, and the worlds of football and style are more entwined than ever. But if you want to trace that cultural crossover back to its roots, the Double Diamond is your compass. Today’s collaborations between football brands and streetwear giants might come dressed in premium fabrics and launched at exclusive events, but the real OG flex? It’s Liam Gallagher on stage in ’96, wearing a Drill Top that probably wasn’t his to begin with, but became everyone’s by the end of the night.
Umbro didn’t just ride the wave of 90s football culture—it helped create it. And whether it's through reissued classics or archive-inspired collections, the brand continues to tap into that nostalgic goldmine, reminding us that the 90s weren’t just a decade—they were a movement.
So, when someone asks what football culture is, point them to a picture of that Maine Road gig, cue up “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, and show them the Double Diamond. Because sometimes, a logo doesn’t just represent a brand—it defines a generation.
Shop Umbro clothing at prodirectsport.com/lifestyle
