Sports Division
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Successor | JJB Sports |
| Products | Clothing, sportswear, sports equipment |
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020) |
Sports Division was one of the biggest sports retailers in the United Kingdom during the 1990s.[1]
The company was set up by Sir Tom Hunter in 1984 to sell trainers, initially from the back of a van. Hunter subsequently borrowed £5,000 from his father and a further £5,000 from RBS to set up Sports Division.
In November 1995, Hunter, along with business partner Philip Green, purchased larger rival Olympus Sports from Sears, and integrated them into the Sports Division brand.[2]
In 1998, following a dramatic reduction in sales, Sports Division postponed coming to the market as planned. In July of that year, the business was sold to its main competitor, JJB Sports, for approximately £295 million.[3]
References
- ^ "JJB kicks off £290m sports deal". BBC News. 23 July 1998. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ Peston, Robert (30 October 2008). Who Runs Britain?: ...and who's to blame for the economic mess we're in By Robert Peston. ISBN 9781848940161. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ^ "JJB leaps on takeover approach". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
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- 1984 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1998 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Clothing retailers of the United Kingdom
- Sporting goods retailers of the United Kingdom
- Retail companies established in 1984
- Retail companies disestablished in 1998
- Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom
- United Kingdom retail company stubs