The Chernin Group has invested $38.5 million (£30 million) in Classic Football Shirts, a Manchester-based retailer specializing in authentic soccer jerseys. Founded in 2008 by Doug Bierton and Matthew Dale, Classic Football Shirts has grown to employ over 150 people and has been profitable each year since its inception. This marks the first outside investment for the company, which plans to expand its presence in the U.S., including opening stores in New York and LA, where it currently generates 15% of its revenue. The company also boasts one of the largest archives of game-worn and rare football shirts, known as 'The Vault,' containing over 6,500 unique jerseys.
In addition to its global core business, Classic Football Shirts has one of the largest known football shirt archives in the world. The incredibly unique “Vault” as it is known, possesses over 6,500 unique or match-worn jerseys that have never been made available for public sale. https://t.co/uRavXEr3nC
Doug Bierton and Matthew Dale founded started Classic Football Shirts in 2008 and Gary came along soon after. Together they grown the brand and business authentically and efficiently. Now >150 employees drive the growing business, which has been profitable each year of operating. https://t.co/E6sKKJJpiq
I am thrilled to announce TCG’s growth equity investment in Classic Football Shirts, the global destination for all things football shirts (soccer jerseys). Based in Manchester UK, CFS has largest collection of authentic club and country products for sale anywhere in the world. https://t.co/PkvWgRMYrn
My @ForbesSports article on the Chernin Group investing $38.5 million in Classic Football Shirts, a U.K.-based company that sells authentic soccer shirts. Classic Football plans on expanding in the U.S., which currently accounts for 15% of its revenue - https://t.co/gKe65wntCQ
Chernin has invested $38 million into Classic Football Shirts, a Manchester-based soccer jersey retailer. The company’s vault of game-worn and rare jerseys is one of the largest on the planet. https://t.co/6825Pm3YkP
Story @TheAthleticFC : We’ve seen US investors buy stakes in football teams, leagues and media rights. Now a major US fund has invested £30m into the Classic Football Shirts business, with plans to open stores in New York and LA. https://t.co/uIE0RsvMZG
Here’s a #PrivateEquity story at the table for breakfast. PE firm The Chernin Group invested over $35M in Classic Football Shirts. It’s the first outside investment CFS has received since its inception in 2006. https://t.co/NDIKoF0EQM #SportsBiz