At the height of their success, they made kits for more than 100 clubs and national teams. By the 1980s, however, other brands had caught up and started throwing their weight around. Admiral tried to keep pace, borrowing heavily from banks, but come the middle of the decade their midlands factory had closed.
They still produce a handful of football shirts today, and have branched out into lifestyle clothing too.
Here, FourFourTwo counts down their 10 best football shirt efforts over the decades...
10. England home, 1974
Alan Ball and Malcolm Macdonald lining up for England in 1974 (Image credit: Admiral Sports)
Eight years on from the glory of 1966, England had to try and qualify for the World Cup again (they qualified in 1970 as holders). They failed to do so.
The small consolation for the Three Lions? They had a great kit that year, their first by Admiral – and their first by any brand, for that matter. It was also the first England shirt the public were able to buy.
9. Vancouver Whitecaps, 1979
Vancouver Whitecaps player in an Admiral shirt in the NASL in 1979 (Image credit: Admiral)
Vancouver not only won the NASL 'Soccer Bowl' in 1979, they won football kits that year with this beauty. The squad numbers on the breast and sleeve are a wonderful touch and would've raised eyebrows among traditionalists at the time. Also, the small Canadian maple leaf on the sleeve is a wonderful detail that underlines Admiral's reputation as kit pioneers of the time.
Vancouver's team was littered with English players that year, from Phil Parkes in goal, Ray Lewington and Alan Ball in midfield and that's Ipswich Town legend Trevor Whymark pictured wheeling away having scored one of his two goals that secured the Whitecaps' title that season.
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8. Leeds United away 1992/93
(Image credit: Admiral)
Leeds entered 1992/93, the inaugural Premier League season, as champions of England – and they celebrated with this statement change kit, one part of what would be their last Admiral line-up for over a decade.
Donned by the likes of Eric Cantona and Gordon Strachan, it got runouts in several away games as the Yorkshire team finished a disappointing 17th under Howard Wilkinson.
7. Leicester City home 1983-1985
Gary Lineker in a Leicester City home 1983-1985 kit by Admiral (Image credit: Admiral)
Founded in Leicester in 1914, Admiral supplied kit to their local side from 1976 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1985.
They kicked off the latter spell with this superbly stripey home jersey, as worn by Foxes legends Gary Lineker and Alan Smith, among others, en route to successive 15th-placed finishes during the club's first two campaigns back in the First Division.
6. Manchester United home 1977-1980
(Image credit: Alamy)
When you think of Manchester United kits, you probably think of Adidas or Nike (maybe Umbro if you're old enough) – certainly not Admiral.
But that was the logo which featured on Red Devils' stars such as Lou Macari and Sammy McIlroy during the latter half of the 70s. Get a load of the V-neck and striped collar on this one!
5. Crystal Palace home,1977-1980
Crystal Palace's home kit by Admiral 1977-1980 (Image credit: Admiral Sports)
Crystal Palace play in red and blue, right? Well, yes, usually – but the South Londoners went rogue in the 70s, switching to this sashed design for their home shirt.
It's one they've paid homage to many times over the years since (more recently for their away kits), and it's not exactly difficult to see why.
4. Wales home, 1976
(Image credit: Admiral)
Wales is the land of daffodils, so it was only right that they added a splash of yellow (and green) to their kit at some stage.
Back in 1976, the time of Welsh legends including Terry Yorath and Joey Jones, this home shirt was the result – and we have to say its away equivalent wasn't too shabby, either.
3. Coventry City away, 1978-1981
(Image credit: Alamy)
We're fully aware that putting Coventry City's infamous brown away kit as high as third on this list is a controversial move – but we're going to own it because it's an historic piece of footballing sartorial brilliance.
Want to get your hands on one of these today? Good luck – they've been known to go up for sale on eBay for around the two-grand mark.
2. West Ham home, 1976-1980
(Image credit: Alamy)
West Ham favourites like Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard Sr wore this shirt en route to the Hammers' 1979/80 FA Cup triumph (ok, they actually wore white as they beat Arsenal in the final, but these stunning threads helped get them there).
We're absolutely all over this chevroned beauty – from a period when the East London giants had a much more aesthetically pleasing badge, too.
1. England home, 1982
(Image credit: Alamy)
England ended their eight-year World Cup absence in 1982, and they arrived with some of the finest threads on show at the tournament in Spain.
Coached by Ron Greenwood and captained by Mick Mills, with Kevin Keegan out injures, the Three Lions only made it as far as the second group stage – but at least they got to wear probably their greatest home shirt ever.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
