Gola (manufacturer)

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Gola Sport Ltd

Type	Private
Genre	Sports equipment
Founded	United Kingdom
Headquarters	Rawtenstall, England
Area served	Worldwide, except Central, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa
Products	Tracksuits Footwear
Parent	Jacobson Group
Website	www.gola.co.uk www.golaclassics.com

Gola is a sporting goods manufacturer based in the United Kingdom. It was founded on 22 May 1905, in Leicester, England. Gola was purchased by the Jacobson Group and has since expanded its range drastically.

The company produces tracksuits and trainer "Harrier" and "Chase" shoes which are particularly popular, especially in continental Europe.

During the 1980's and early 1990's in the United Kingdom, there was a schoolyard craze of having particular types or styles of sports shoes, or trainers. Gola trainers were usually cheaper than contemporary Adidas, Nike or Reebok trainers in the 1980s, making them very attractive for parents - though the shoes themselves were rarely popular with children. However, in the late 2000's, Gola sportswear became very popular as a 'retro' brand, and the trainers which were once deeply unpopular in the 80's and 90's are now selling to the same children, now grown up, at premium prices.

Gola sponsored the Football Conference (previously Alliance Premier League) from 1984 until 1986, during which time the league was known as the Gola League. When Gola's backing finished, car maker Vauxhall took over.