Founded in January 2010 ID Sports and Leisure continues to go from strength to strength.
Based from their retail sports shop and manufacturing Unit in Malvern, Worcestershire ID Sports now supplies equipment and clothing to some of the best sporting teams in the world! Including the likes of West Indies Cricket Team, Middlesex County Cricket Club, Cambridge University Rowing Club & Hereford United Football Club to name but a few.
From humble beginnings we now employ a workforce of highly skilled individuals who’s wide and varied talent base allows the company to cope with the modern day demands of the sports clothing and equipment world.
At ID Sports we pride ourselves on supplying not only the best clothing and equipment from the top suppliers (Gilbert, Gray Nicolls, Kookaburra, Mizuno, Asics, and Puma) but also on the fact that we manufacture and import a wide variety of products.
In 2011 the company has also taken a huge step forward by producing their own clothing under the Stitch brand name.
Stitch has the reputation of being one of the leading rowing clothing manufacturers. We also have the edge over our competitors by being a completely UK based company. Every major component part of our clothing is UK sourced and this gives us complete control over the order process.
Stitch is also diversifying into new areas such as Motor Sport Clothing and Polo clothing where we know our unique blend of knowledge in fabrics and the manufacturing process will combine to produce a winning combination.
The Team
David Keyte (Director)
David Keyte (born 1954) is a Hereford-born businessman and sportsman, currently chairman of Hereford United.
Keyte went to Hereford Cathedral School and played for Hereford United Reserves in the 1970s, having been signed by Colin Addison. He also played football for Westfields.[1]
He was also a cricketer, playing as a wicket-keeper for Worcestershire 2nd XI[2]
Keyte trained as an accountant and owns a property in Barbados.
In 2000 he was appointed Bursar at Bredon School, an independent school near Tewkesbury. Quickly promoted to General Manager, he bought the school in 2002 and became Principal. In 2009 he sold the school whilst remaining as Principal before retiring from his position in the summer of 2010.[3]
Keyte became chairman of Hereford United on 4 June 2010. He was introduced to his vice chairman Tim Russon by Joan Fennessy, the outgoing company secretary, two months previously.
Simon Keyte (Director)
Simon Keyte (born 1979) is a keen sportsman, he was an Aston Villa schoolboy, Worcestershire Youth cricketer and played rugby for Droitwich RFC and Upton RFC.
He took up rowing whilst at University of Salford and due to rowing missed a cricket season for the first time in his life! Unfortunately due to back injuries and subsequent operations was forced to stopped competing in the sport he had fast grown to love.
Simon worked for Cadburys in Account Management for 4 years before setting up ID Sports and now acts as Managing Director.
Duncan Cooper (Director)
Duncan Cooper (born 1980) has been involved in the sports industry for over 15 years.
Starting as a Saturday shop worker in his local sports shop he moved to work for Crusader Sports where he rose through the ranks of the company. Working with many of the companies high profile customers (Worcestershire County Cricket Club, Middlesex County Cricket Club, West Indies Cricket Board. Worcester University and others) Duncan’s wide and varied knowledge base encompasses many aspects of the companies day to day work.
Duncan is also a keen cricketer and has played cricket for many teams in many different locations around the world.
Doreen Hayes (Embroidery Department)
Doreen Hayes (born sometime in the 1940’s) is a member of the Stitch production team and works specifically in the embroidery and print department.
Doreen has previuosly worked for Fatihful overalls and alongside her wealth of experience in the embroidery and print room she’s also pretty niffty on a sewing machine and the cutting table.
Doreen loves the day to day challenge of working at Stitch. She enjoys the decorating of garments and her favourite logo is the Hereford United Football badge.
Shirley Robinson (Sewing Department)
Shirley Robinson (born 1951) is a member of Stitches Sewing Department. Shirl specialises in skin wear such as all in one suits and tech tops.
Shirl loves the fact that her garments use the highest level of perfomance fabrics and is always pleased when she notices one of her garments being worn by top athletes.
Shirls favourite garment to date has been the All in One suits for Cambridge Rowing Club who were Sponsored by the Bank of China.
Lynn Horn (Sewing Department)
Lynn Horne (born 1955) is also a member of stitches sewing department. Lynn Specialises in the production of outerwear such as our world renowned 24/7 jackets.
Lynn previuosly worked for Frank Bryan Sports making sports equipment (e.g. cricket pads and boxing gloves)
Lynn takes great pride in her work and is pleased to have worked on some of the new and challenging products that Stitch are now producing.
Lynn favourite garment to date has been the FlameLilly Polo team jacket.
Lauraine Kelly (Cutting Department)
Lauraine Kelly (born sometime in the 1970’s) is the person who gets the whole manufacturing process started! Used to handling big rolls of fabric Lauraine has the biggest knife in the world!!!! Wether it’s cutting old favourites such as the Alpha suit or coming up with new design tweaks Lauraine is at her happiest when she’s weilding a pair of scissors.
Her favourite garment is the Harlequine suit.
