Tom Beahon: The Entrepreneur Behind Castore’s Global Growth

Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Business Blog Media Editorial Team

Introduction

Tom Beahon is a British entrepreneur and the co-founder and co-chief executive of Castore. He created the sportswear company with his younger brother, Phil Beahon.

The brothers started Castore in Liverpool in 2015. Their goal was to produce premium sports clothing for athletes who wanted something different from the largest global brands.

Castore began as a small online business. It later became an international company with partnerships across football, cricket, rugby, tennis and Formula One. As of July 2026, Beahon remains an active company director and a key leader behind its commercial growth.

Tom Beahon Quick Facts

Fact	Information
Full registered name	Thomas Beahon
Professional name	Tom Beahon
Born	September 1989
Nationality	British
Profession	Entrepreneur and sportswear executive
Known for	Co-founding Castore
Current role	Co-founder and co-chief executive of Castore
Business partner	Phil Beahon
Company founded	2015
Company industry	Sportswear, team kits and retail
Previous career areas	Football and banking

Who Is Tom Beahon?

Tom Beahon is best known as one of the two brothers who created Castore.

The company is a British sportswear brand that designs performance clothing and supplies official products to professional sports organisations. Its work includes team kits, training clothes, fan merchandise and direct-to-customer retail.

Beahon is responsible for many of the company’s public and commercial activities. His work includes developing partnerships, entering new markets and building relationships with athletes, teams and investors.

He has helped Castore grow from a small family-supported idea into a recognised name in the international sports business.

His Early Interest in Sport

Sport played an important part in Beahon’s life before he entered business.

He trained within the youth system at Tranmere Rovers and later continued his football development in Spain. He wanted to become a professional player, but his career did not progress to the highest level.

This experience still gave him useful knowledge.

He understood what athletes expected from sports clothing. He also saw how performance, comfort, team identity and brand image could influence buying decisions.

His brother Phil also had a strong sporting background through cricket. Their shared experience helped them identify a possible gap in the sportswear market.

Moving From Football to Banking

After leaving competitive football, Beahon entered the financial-services industry.

He worked at Lloyds Bank in roles connected with strategic finance and acquisitions. The experience taught him about money, company growth, investment and commercial decision-making.

This knowledge later became valuable when he needed to speak with investors and build a fast-growing company.

Like other former investment bankers who became company founders, he used skills from finance to understand business risks and growth opportunities.

However, leaving a stable banking career was a major decision. Castore had no guarantee of success, and the brothers had limited resources when they started.

How Did Tom Beahon Start Castore?

Tom and Phil Beahon founded Castore in Liverpool in 2015.

The brothers believed that there was room for a new British company offering carefully designed performance clothing. They did not want to create only basic gym wear. Their ambition was to build a premium brand that could eventually compete internationally.

The early process was difficult.

They used their savings and received financial help from their family. Their parents supported the idea at a time when many banks and investors were unwilling to take the risk.

The brothers also travelled to European factories and fabric suppliers. They studied materials, production methods and the needs of athletes.

During Castore’s first years, they kept their personal spending low and returned much of the company’s money to the business.

The brand’s message, “Better Never Stops,” reflected their belief that products and business systems should continue improving.

Castore’s Early Growth

Castore began by selling sports clothing directly to customers online.

The brothers gave products to selected athletes and influential people. This allowed potential customers to see the clothing being used rather than depending only on traditional advertising.

According to Castore’s official company timeline, the business reached approximately £1 million in revenue in 2017.

Its products were also stocked by major retailers, including Mr Porter and Harrods. These relationships gave the young company greater visibility and trust.

In 2018, Castore raised £3.2 million from private investors. The money supported new websites, international sales and expansion into Asian and American markets.

Why Was the Andy Murray Partnership Important?

One of Castore’s most important early moments came in 2019.

British tennis player Sir Andy Murray became the company’s first major athlete partner. He also invested in the business.

This relationship gave Castore something that a new sportswear brand needed: public credibility.

Murray was already recognised around the world. Seeing an elite athlete use Castore products helped teams, investors and customers take the company more seriously.

The partnership also led to the AMC clothing range connected with Murray.

It was more than a normal sponsorship agreement. It showed that an experienced professional athlete was willing to connect his reputation and money with the company.

How Castore Entered Professional Team Sports

Castore initially focused on individual performance clothing. The company later moved into professional teamwear.

In 2020, it agreed to work with organisations including West Indies cricket and Rangers Football Club. It also entered the Australian sports market through rugby league partnerships.

The Rangers agreement was especially important because it placed the Castore name in front of a large international football audience.

More sports partnerships followed.

Castore expanded its work to include organisations connected with:

• Premier League football
• International cricket
• Professional rugby
• Formula One
• Tennis
• Golf
• European club football

Its partnerships have included McLaren Racing, England Cricket, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and other well-known teams.

These agreements changed Castore from a clothing start-up into a major participant in the sports-merchandise industry.

What Is Tom Beahon’s Role at Castore?

As of July 2026, Beahon continues to serve as Castore’s co-founder and co-chief executive.

UK Companies House also lists Thomas Beahon as an active director of J.Carter Sporting Club Limited, the legal company operating behind the Castore brand.

His main areas of work include:

• Business development
• Commercial partnerships
• International expansion
• Brand strategy
• Investor relationships
• New market opportunities
• Major company transactions

Phil Beahon has generally focused more closely on finance, operations and supply-chain matters.

This division of responsibilities allows the brothers to use different skills while continuing to lead the same company.

Castore’s Business Model

Castore does more than sell its own sports clothing.

Its wider business model includes:

• Designing performance products
• Manufacturing professional team kits
• Selling official fan merchandise
• Operating online shops for sports organisations
• Managing physical retail stores
• Building athlete collections
• Developing commercial sports partnerships
• Using customer and sales data to improve retail decisions

This model allows Castore to earn money from both individual shoppers and large sports organisations.

The company also benefits when supporters buy official clothing connected with their favourite club, athlete or racing team.

Its brand-building approach places it among British founders who changed fashion and digital retail, although Castore has remained strongly focused on sport and performance.

Major Investment and Expansion

Castore’s growth required large amounts of outside funding.

In November 2023, the company announced a £145 million investment round led by Raine Partners. The funding was intended to support its supply chain, technology, international development and new sports partnerships.

The company also expanded beyond its main Castore label.

It secured professional team-sports licensing rights connected with Umbro in several markets. This gave it access to another established name within football and team clothing.

In August 2025, Castore acquired Belstaff, a British clothing company known for heritage outerwear and motorcycle-inspired products.

The acquisition was an important change in direction. It showed that the brothers wanted to build a wider group of premium brands rather than depend only on Castore sportswear.

Castore’s £90 Million Funding Facility

In May 2026, Castore secured a £90 million funding facility from banking partners including HSBC UK, BNP Paribas and Lloyds.

The company said the money would support its next stage of growth.

Planned areas included:

• Opening additional UK stores
• Entering more international markets
• Expanding in Asia
• Growing in the Middle East
• Improving digital systems
• Strengthening business operations

This funding came more than ten years after the brothers began developing their original idea.

The involvement of major banks also showed how far the business had moved from its early period, when outside funding was difficult to obtain.

Building a Challenger Sportswear Brand

The sportswear market is controlled by some of the world’s largest clothing companies.

Castore could not easily compete with those businesses through advertising budgets or global shop numbers. It needed a different method.

The company focused on becoming a flexible partner for athletes and teams. It also entered agreements that allowed it to manage merchandise, online sales and retail operations.

This approach helped it win opportunities that might normally have gone to larger competitors.

The brand also presented itself as a British alternative based on technical products, close sporting relationships and continuous improvement.

Challenges During Rapid Growth

Fast growth can create serious difficulties.

A company may need to increase production, hire workers, improve delivery systems and serve many new customers at the same time.

Castore faced public criticism over some products and teamwear during its expansion. The company had to improve quality controls and respond to the needs of its partners.

Beahon has discussed the importance of learning from mistakes rather than hiding them.

This is an important part of the Castore story. Growth is not only about winning new agreements. A company must also produce reliable products, deliver them on time and protect customer trust.

What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Tom Beahon

Use Personal Experience

The idea for Castore came partly from the brothers’ experience as sportsmen. They understood the customers because they had once been the customers.

Learn Before Launching

They spent time studying fabrics, factories and performance clothing before building the brand.

Accept a Difficult Beginning

The company started without a large office, famous name or guaranteed funding. Its founders had to control spending and continue after receiving rejections.

Build Proof Before Making Big Claims

Early customer sales and retail agreements gave investors evidence that the idea could work.

Choose Partnerships Carefully

The Andy Murray relationship gave Castore trust that ordinary advertising could not have created so quickly.

Combine Different Skills

Tom focused strongly on commercial growth and relationships, while Phil developed expertise in finance and operations.

Keep Improving Systems

A company that grows quickly must improve its supply chain, technology, staff and quality controls. What works for a small start-up may not work for an international business.

Why Is Tom Beahon Important in British Business?

Beahon helped create a modern British sportswear company in a market dominated by international groups.

Castore’s rise shows that a younger company can enter a difficult industry by finding a clear position and building strong partnerships.

The company also connected several business areas:

• Sport
• Clothing
• E-commerce
• Physical retail
• Licensing
• Team merchandise
• International brand development

His career is also a clear example of professional change.

He moved from football to banking and then from banking to entrepreneurship. Skills from each stage supported the next one.

Football gave him knowledge of athletes. Banking gave him financial experience. Entrepreneurship allowed him to combine both areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tom Beahon?

Tom Beahon is a British entrepreneur and the co-founder and co-chief executive of Castore, a sportswear and professional teamwear company.

What is Tom Beahon famous for?

He is famous for creating Castore with his brother, Phil Beahon, and helping the brand grow through major athlete and sports-team partnerships.

Is Tom Beahon still the CEO of Castore?

As of July 2026, he is publicly identified as Castore’s co-chief executive. He also remains an active director of the company behind the brand.

Who founded Castore?

Tom Beahon and his younger brother, Phil Beahon, founded Castore.

When was Castore founded?

Castore’s official company history states that it was founded in Liverpool in 2015.

Did Tom Beahon play football?

Yes. He pursued football before entering business, including time within the Tranmere Rovers youth system and further development in Spain.

What did he do before Castore?

He worked in financial services at Lloyds Bank after ending his attempt to become a professional football player.

How did Castore become successful?

The company developed premium sportswear, sold directly online, gained respected retail accounts and formed partnerships with leading athletes and professional sports organisations.

Did Andy Murray invest in Castore?

Yes. Sir Andy Murray became an athlete partner and investor in 2019.

What is Tom Beahon doing now?

He continues to lead Castore, support its international expansion and develop commercial partnerships and new business opportunities.

Conclusion

Tom Beahon is the entrepreneur who helped turn Castore from a small Liverpool start-up into an international sportswear business.

His journey began in football, continued through banking and eventually led to company leadership. Together with Phil Beahon, he built the business through product development, careful spending, outside investment and major sports partnerships.

The company’s growth was not simple or free from problems. Castore had to learn how to manage production, quality, retail and international expansion at greater scale.

However, its progress shows the value of understanding a market, building proof and continuing to improve.

As of July 2026, Beahon remains closely involved in Castore’s leadership. His main challenge is no longer proving that the company can survive. It is building a British sportswear group that can compete successfully around the world.