Sports kit maker Umbro saw record demand from shops for England football shirts ahead of the World Cup.
Umbro said the famous red Three Lions shirt worn by England in Germany was its best selling football jersey of all time.
The demand for the red away kit - made legendary by England's World Cup win in 1966 - sent sales to stores in the United Kingdom and abroad in the first six months of the year to a record £247 million. That was 41 per cent higher than last year and 26 per cent up on 2004 when business was boosted by England's participation in the European Championships.
Umbro said it sold 150,000 red England shirts designed for women in the run up to the World Cup, making it the most popular women's shirt it has ever made.
It said other England prod-ucts, such as training tops, polo shirts, bags and caps, were also in strong demand.
Umbro chief executive Peter McGuigan said: "We are pleased with Umbro's performance to date.
"The World Cup has given the brand unparalleled exposure and we look forward to capitalising on that with the introduction of new product ranges and initiatives in the coming months.
"We remain confident about the future."
Analyst Rhys Williams, of stockbrokers Seymour Pierce, warned of a downturn for the rest of the year and next year after the high of the World Cup.
"While this year we expect profits to significantly move forward, next year Umbro will struggle to maintain this level and we continue to forecast a fall back," said Mr Williams.
Away from the World Cup, Umbro said it had received compensation of £24.5 million from Chelsea FC after the Premiership champions ended their kit deal with the firm five years early in favour of a contract with rival Adidas.
