Manufrance in partnership with Foot Dimanche has just launched a vintage collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts proudly displaying the iconic Manufrance logo from the 70s and paying tribute to the green heroes of the European epic of 1976: a range of unisex t-shirts and sweatshirts in 100% organic cotton , for adults and children, to be found now and exclusively on https://footdimanche.com/collections/manufrance . On this occasion, we take a look back at the history of a historic partnership that celebrates more than 50 years of shared passion!
Saint-Etienne, Manufrance and ASSE: still in Green!
Did you know? The Greens only really became “the Greens” - in the hearts of the public and the popular imagination of football lovers - since the 1970s and the widespread availability of color television. The choice of green dates back to the club's origins. At the time, it was still the “Casino Employees' Association” and, as is customary, adopted its company's colors. However, those of Casino, a company historically attached to Saint-Etienne , are green and white. A nod - perhaps - to the name “Rue des Jardins” where the group's first store was located, from its founder, a certain... Geoffroy Guichard . The fact is that, since the 1920s, green has always been the color of the ASSE jersey ... including during the famous epic 1975/1976 season, during which Saint-Etienne qualified for the historic final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.
Saint-Etienne and Manufrance
During the 1970s, Manufrance was the main sponsor of the Greens. Concluded in 1973, the most famous partnership enshrined the wearing of the famous Manufrance logo on the players' chests. ASSE "pillars" and legends - Sarramagna, Lacombe, Rocheteau, etc. - thus played many matches wearing the legendary Manufrance jersey. It's worth remembering that founded in 1885, the company - the first to practice mail order sales in France - was then called " Manufacture française d'armes et de cycles de Saint-Etienne ." A company deeply attached to its city, who better than it could dress the Greens?
In 1976, the Greens' jersey was also the Manufrance jersey
During the legendary 75/76 season, AS Saint-Etienne , wearing the Manufrance jersey , scored 68 goals in Division 1. The figures speak for themselves: first place in the league with 57 points, for 18 wins, 15 draws and only 5 defeats. “Saint-Etienne will be champion”, at the time, is conjugated in the present. On the European scene, it reached the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup , “ancestor” of the Champions League, by successively beating Glasgow Rangers, Dynamo Kiev and PSV Eindhoven. The rest is history: saved several times by the square posts of Hampden Park in Glasgow, Franz Beckenbauer's Bayern Munich finally won by the smallest of margins, and closed a story which, a few centimeters away, could have been even greater.
In 2022 Manufrance and Foot Dimanche celebrate 50 years of passion
More than forty years after the exploit of the 75/76 season, Manufrance remembers the epic and offers all ASSE fans, in partnership with Foot Dimanche, a new collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the iconic logo of the Saint-Etienne company.
Carole Tavitian, President of Manufrance : “Foot Dimanche has developed a collection of quality clothing intended for both football fans and all members of the family.”
Jonas Bisagni, Founder of Foot Dimanche : "We are delighted to partner with Manufrance, a key sponsor of the Greens' epic in the 1970s. We hope this collection will delight all Saint-Etienne fans."