Who We Are?
Our Mission
To create a profitable ethical business that offers uk manufactured innovative socks which enables expression through increased performance, comfort and style.
Tejay Sportswear, established by the father and son duo of the late John Smith and his eldest son Terry in 1984, is now recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of football, rugby and hockey socks in the UK. Located in Narborough , Leicester the company which designs and manufactures wholly in the UK has in excess of 60 staff and supplies performance field sports socks to a host of household name kit suppliers and clubs.
From humble beginnings in 1984 Terry acquired (with help from Dad John) 6 Komet machines from his then insolvent employer Stormhurst and set up in The Magazine manufacturing a range of football socks to satisfy initially some of the clients of Stormhurst. John joined Terry soon after and together this formidable partnership began to build their business empire.
Leicester, home to Tejay, has a substantial knitwear and hosiery heritage and this legacy is at the root of the company which draws its workforce from the surrounding areas. The dedicated workforce when coupled with state of the art technology in the knitting room has seen Tejay blossom. It is this fiercely proud British manufacturing strategy that stands Tejay apart from its competition. Quick turnaround, bespoke design and high quality control are part of the service Tejay deploy day in day out.
Innovation, a much overused word, really describes the product portfolio that Tejay offer, always striving to develop the range, Tejay have been responsible for the major developments in football sock design and performance when working with kit suppliers and the demands of professional sportspeople.
Significant milestones include :-
The EuroSock – a term coined by Tejay that is now the standard for professional football socks.
Micromesh Venting – requested by the industry and designed, constructed and delivered by Tejay.
Footless Socks– in response to players wanting to take the practice comfort into matchday by keeping the sock and boot combo the same and still complying with regulations
Tejay today is still a family business with Terry at the helm, ably assisted by Marlene his mum and with brothers Russ & Glen and son Nick in strategic roles delivering the same virtues instilled by John Smith of British manufacture, service, innovation and quality.
Our Team
Terry Smith
Managing Director
Terry Smith is the MD of Tejay, having started the company with his late father John Smith in 1984 , Terry oversees the entire operation with a hands on intensity. Terry a keen sportsman is a Leicester City supporter and is married to Kerry with 4 sons, Nicholas, Daniel, Mitchel and Jordan, Terry is a very proud “Pops” to 7 grandchildren.
Marlene Smith
Co-Founder
Marlene Smith has been involved in Tejay since its inception. Marlene supports her extended "family" in performing their roles at Tejay. Much loved by all, Marlene embodies all that is good about Tejay Sportswear.
Sue Hutchinson
Financial Controller
Sue has been with Tejay for over 30 years. Her diverse roles include overseeing financial matters and HR. As a pivotal member of the Tejay management team, she has been instrumental in managing the day-to-day finances and providing business information for expansion.
Beyond Tejay, Sue enjoys putting her border collie, Ada, through her paces in the agility ring.
Russel Smith
Production Manager
Russ is Terry’s right hand man at the coal face. Russ is the man that ensures all socks manufactured meet and exceed customers’ expectations. Russ manages the design and knitting teams to guarantee your designs can be a reality by creating the knit programmes that deliver the designs. He makes sure quality standards don’t slip and production schedules are maintained with his team of setters and technicians.
Nick Smith
Post Production Manager
Terry’s eldest son joined Tejay from school and is responsible for all orders making it out the door, on time every time! Nick works closely with all areas in the company ensuring we meet the exacting standards that has stood us in good stead since his granddad John helped establish the business in 1984.
Nigel Lucas
Head Technician
Nigel joined the company in 2001 and has demonstrated his hands on capability to keep the production flowing over that time. Nigel heads our team of Technicians who are responsible for all development work, machine maintenance, both preventative and repair for both mechanical and electrical disciplines.
Jordan Smith
Jordan is the youngest of Terry's four sons and the latest member of the Smith dynasty to be drafted. His love for all sports allows him to empathise with the wearers of Tejay products, providing valuable insights that shape the future innovations for which Tejay is renowned. His enthusiasm and energy have been invaluable additions to the Tejay management team, both now and in the future.
Jordan, previously a primary school teacher, now oversees the sales office at Tejay. He is the interface into production and is involved in all customer meetings, new and existing.
Yasmine Faulkner
Account Manager
Yasmine joined Tejay directly from Lutterworth College in 2012. During her time at the company, she has valued all the opportunities and experiences that have come her way. Yasmine has established an excellent rapport with customers and is a Key Account Manager with a keen eye for detail and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
Outside of work, Yasmine enjoys spending time with her young daughter and will soon be going on maternity leave for her second child.
Glen Smith
Warehouse/
Logistics
Glen is the face of Tejay and the youngest of the Smith brothers. He delivers our goods to your doorstep. Courteous and customer focused, Glen is a hard working integral member of the Tejay Team, always a smile on his face, keen to offer assistance and not afraid to dig in when called for.
Suzanne Griffiths
HR Officer
In 2012, Suzanne reunited with Tejay after an 11-year hiatus. She closely collaborates with Sue and is responsible for HR duties, coordinating and reporting on Ethical and Social audits, and purchasing and purchase payments. Suzanne is easily approachable and serves as a key intermediary between the management team and the staff.
Suzanne is a married mother of two football-loving children, a boy and a girl. Rain or shine, you can find her cheering them on during most weekends' activities.
Sarah King
Senior Account Manager
Sarah has over twenty years of experience in hosiery design and retail buying. She joined the office staff in early 2020 and is currently a Senior Account Manager. Sarah enjoys developing relationships with Tejay’s diverse customer base, which includes major sportswear brands, key schoolwear suppliers, and individual start-ups, to ensure they receive the best service.
Outside of Tejay, Sarah is an accomplished mixed-media artist. She enjoys going for country walks and spending time with her family.
Tracy Wye
Account Manager
Our latest recruit is Tracy, the new Account Manager. She brings vibrancy, and her rugby background and general sporting interest facilitate easy communication with customers. Tracey is a great addition to the customer-facing team.
Her interests away from Tejay are varied. Tracy enjoys riding motorbikes, watching BSB and MOTO GP, and loves live music.
A fibre with a four channelled cross section draws moisture away from foot and transports it to the outer surface where it evaporates quickly, keeping your feet cool and dry.
LYCRA® fibre, is an elastane fibre that can stretch up to seven times its original length and will instantly recover when tension is released. It helps all socks to stay up, it provides excellent fit, with comfort wear after wear.
