World Cup passions across the country may have centred on the exploits of Alan Shearer and his England team, but for workers at Keighley-based Calmon International the trials and tribulations of Scotland, Japan and Norway also had a special attraction.

Calmon, the specialist manufacturers of woven and printed clothing accessories, supplied the badges which decorated the shirts of the three nations, so they had more than a passing interest in their progress.

Chairman Tony Lee says: "By losing their first two matches only 1-0 to Argentina and Croatia, Japan did pretty well, but we were disappointed when Scotland went out.

"Norway's win over Brazil was a shock result, but it meant that Calmon International qualified for the knock-out stages. Even now that our badge-carriers are all out, we can still claim a vested interest in the England kit - the Umbro flashing is another Calmon product."

Mr Lee says the orders from Britain, the EEC and Far East underline the company's international portfolio and show how a Keighley concern can be part of such a major sporting event. "We have a strong tradition of manufacturing badges and emblems for a wide range of sporting outlets, and there's always a special fillip when you see teams in action and know they are wearing something your company has helped to create," he says.

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