JD Sports is the UK’s leading sports fashion retailer. Offering an extensive on-line range of men's, women's and kid's trainers and footwear - of which 80% is exclusive to JD Sports. JD Sports' online product range is currently being expanded to include clothing and accessories.

The first JD Sports shop opened in Bury, Lancashire in December 1981. With growth and the acquisition of the First Sport chain of stores in 2002 this now stands at of 300 stores nationwide.

JD History

The first big development in the business came after couple of years, in Spring 1983, when JD Sports opened a shop in the Arndale Centre Manchester. Things began to move on with a further two shops in Sheffield and Liverpool as the JD Sports business began to build.

In the mid eighties, company sales broke through the £3million mark. This was undoubtedly helped by the growth of international sports brands, a growth which continued through the late eighties, and paralleled the success of JD Sports.

By 1990 JD’s reputation for innovation in the sports retail business was building momentum and the World Cup gave the whole sports retail industry a massive boost when England reached the semi finals.

The JD brand recognition was growing and so too were the number of shops. In 1995 JD had over 50 stores and was becoming a leader in its own area: Sports fashion.

In October 1996 with a floatation on the London Stock Exchange the company JD Sports became John David Sports plc, but the name above the stores remained the same.

By 2000 JD Sports proudly stood at the top where it belongs as the UK’s Number One Sports Fashion Retailer. In 2002 the parent company changed its name to The John David Group Plc and acquired the First Sport chain of UK stores and began converting them to JDs. There are now over 300 JD Sports stores in the UK.