If you remember the classic British Sports Mixture sweets, you may have noticed that the product looks or tastes different from what you remember. The short answer is yes, there have been changes to Sports Mixture products over the years, including changes in branding, recipes, flavors, and which version of the product is being sold.
One important source of confusion is that “Sports Mixture” has been used for more than one version of the classic fruit-gum confectionery. The original Lion product was later associated with the name Football Gums, while Maynards Bassetts continues to sell a product called Sports Mix. Current retailers still list both versions.
That means someone who says, “These aren’t the Sports Mixture I remember,” may actually be comparing two different products.
What happened to Sports Mixture?
The classic product has gone through changes in branding and ownership over the years.
The original Lion version became associated with the name Lion Football Gums, while retailers continue to describe it as formerly known as Sports Mixture. Current listings for the Lion version specifically describe the sweets as being made according to the original recipe and containing the traditional liquorice-flavored black pieces.
At the same time, Maynards Bassetts sells Sports Mix in 130-gram bags. The current product is described by Cadbury Gifts Direct as a longer-lasting fruit gum made with natural colors.
So, the name “Sports Mixture” can refer to different products depending on which version you bought.
Did the name change?
Yes, at least for the Lion version.
The Lion sweets historically known as Sports Mixture are now commonly sold as Lion Football Gums. Current confectionery retailers explicitly identify the product as Football Gums and explain that it was formerly known as Sports Mixture.
This branding change can make the product appear to have disappeared even though a closely related version remains available.
Some retailers still use “Sports Mixture” in the product title or description because it is the traditional name many customers recognize.
Did the ingredients change?
This is where things become more complicated because different versions have different ingredient lists.
Current Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix is listed with ingredients including glucose syrup, sugar, starch, gelatin, water, acids, natural color ingredients, flavorings, coconut oil and carnauba wax.
The current Lion Football Gums/Sports Mixture listings have a different ingredient profile. One current retailer lists glucose syrup, sugar, beef gelatin, modified potato starch, liquorice extract, flavorings, natural colors, vegetable oils and other ingredients.
That difference matters because consumers comparing an old bag with a newer bag may not actually be comparing the same manufacturer’s product.
Why do some people say the taste has changed?
Taste is subjective, but there are plenty of consumer comments from people who believe the modern Maynards version tastes different from the Sports Mixture they remember.
For example, recent customer reviews on Review Centre include complaints about reduced flavor and a different taste compared with older versions. These are consumer opinions rather than laboratory evidence that a specific recipe change caused the difference.
This distinction is important.
A customer saying “the sweets taste different” does not establish exactly which ingredient or manufacturing change caused the difference. Taste perception can also be influenced by the particular version purchased, storage conditions and personal expectations.
What about the black sweets?
The black pieces are another major point of difference.
Historical descriptions of some Sports Mix products say that the black pieces were changed from liquorice to blackcurrant.
However, the Lion version currently sold by several specialist sweet retailers specifically contains liquorice-flavored black gums. Current ingredient lists include liquorice extract.
This means that someone who remembers the strong liquorice flavor may be looking for the Lion Football Gums version rather than the Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix.
Are Lion Football Gums the same as the old Sports Mixture?
They are closely connected, but shoppers should not assume that every modern product carrying a similar name is identical.
Current retailers describe Lion Football Gums as the product formerly known as Sports Mixture and say that the Lion version retains the original recipe and liquorice flavor.
One specialist retailer also states that Lion’s traditional hard gums have continued using the same basic ingredients, methods and recipes associated with the traditional product.
However, claims about an “original recipe” should be understood as the retailer or manufacturer description. They do not independently prove that every characteristic is exactly identical to a product manufactured decades ago.
Why are there different Sports Mixture products?
The history of the product involves different manufacturers, brands and versions.
The traditional Lion product became associated with Lion Football Gums, while Maynards Bassetts sells its own Sports Mix product. The broader brand history also involves Cadbury UK and Mondelēz International.
This helps explain why two bags that look similar may have different:
- Names
- Manufacturers
- Packaging
- Flavors
- Ingredients
- Shapes
- Color combinations
- Black sweet flavor
- Texture
For longtime fans, these differences can be noticeable.
Are Sports Mixture sweets still available?
Yes.
Current online retailers continue to list Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix, including individual 130-gram bags and multipacks.
Lion Football Gums, formerly known as Sports Mixture, are also currently listed by specialist UK sweet retailers.
So the product category has not simply disappeared. Instead, shoppers may encounter different versions under different names.
Which version should you look for?
If you are trying to recreate the taste you remember from traditional Lion Sports Mixture, checking the product name and ingredient list is important.
Look for Lion Football Gums
Current retailers identify Lion Football Gums as the former Sports Mixture product and list liquorice extract among the ingredients.
Look for Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix
If the package says Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix, you are buying the Maynards-branded version. Current Cadbury Gifts Direct listings describe it as a fruit-flavored gum made with natural colors.
The two should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Have the shapes changed?
The assortment of sports-related shapes has varied across descriptions of the product.
Historical descriptions include shapes such as cricket bats and balls, bicycles, ice skates, rugby balls, tennis racquets and other sports-related forms.
Because manufacturers and product versions have changed, the exact selection of shapes may not always be identical from one product or period to another.
For collectors of nostalgic sweets, packaging and product naming can therefore be just as important as the actual candy.
Why does the modern version seem different?
There are several possible reasons.
Different brand: You may have purchased Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix when you previously ate Lion Sports Mixture.
Different recipe: Different versions have different listed ingredients.
Different flavor: The treatment of the black pieces is particularly important for people who remember liquorice.
Different packaging: A rebrand can make a familiar product appear completely different.
Memory: Nostalgia can also affect how strongly we perceive differences in taste and texture.
There is therefore no single explanation for every person’s experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have sports mixture changed over the years?
Yes. The product has experienced branding and product-version changes. The former Lion Sports Mixture is now commonly sold as Lion Football Gums, while Maynards Bassetts continues to sell Sports Mix.
Is Sports Mixture still available?
Yes. Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix is currently sold, and Lion Football Gums, formerly known as Sports Mixture, are also available from specialist retailers.
Are Sports Mixture and Football Gums the same?
The Lion Football Gums product is described by current retailers as the product formerly known as Sports Mixture. However, Sports Mix from Maynards Bassetts is a separate branded version, so consumers should check the manufacturer and ingredients.
Did the black Sports Mixture sweets change flavor?
Different versions have used different flavors for the black pieces. Historical descriptions mention a change from liquorice to blackcurrant for one version, while current Lion Football Gums listings contain liquorice extract.
Why do modern Sports Mixture sweets taste different?
The exact reason depends on which product and period you are comparing. Different manufacturers and versions have different ingredient lists, and consumer reviews also report perceived differences in flavor.
Are the current Lion Football Gums made from the original recipe?
Current specialist retailers describe the Lion version as being made according to the original recipe. This is a product description rather than independent historical verification of every ingredient and manufacturing detail.
Conclusion
So, have sports mixture changed? Yes, there have been changes in branding and different versions of the product over time, which can explain why today’s sweets may not look or taste exactly like the ones you remember.
The biggest distinction is between the Lion version, now commonly sold as Football Gums, and Maynards Bassetts Sports Mix. Current listings show differences in ingredients and product descriptions, while the Lion version continues to be marketed as the traditional Sports Mixture product with liquorice-flavored black pieces.
If you are looking for the nostalgic version, checking the manufacturer, product name and ingredients is the easiest way to determine which Sports Mixture you are actually buying.
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