Shirts all for a good cause

Rare jersey collectors on Leeside are being spoiled rotten this week with the release of two unrelated limited edition Cork City soccer shirts.

First off, iconic Cork punk rockers The Sultans of Ping have joined forces with Cork football supporters trust and former Cork City FC owner FORAS to launch a limited-edition O’Neill’s jersey, with all proceeds going to local charity Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams.

Paul Fitzgerald, a graduate of Field of Dreams, modelled the special edition jersey at a recent photo shoot in Coughlan’s Bar on Douglas Street.

The striped O’Neill’s shirt is Irish made in the green and red FORAS colours, emblazoned with The Sultans of Ping logo across the chest and an embroidered FORAS logo as its badge. On the back of the shirt the collar reads: “City ‘til I die and beyond,” - a tribute to the late John Kennedy, a FORAS stalwart who died five years ago. John’s daughter Grace was on hand at the promotional photo shoot. The bottom of the shirt reads: “A man can’t have no greater love…”, - a nod to ‘Give Him a Ball (And A Yard of Grass)’, the Sultans’ beloved rock tribute to the beautiful game.

FORAS Chairman Darren O’Keeffe said teaming up with the Sultans was a “no-brainer”.

“We wanted to launch a special edition shirt with a music crossover, and the Sultans were the obvious choice,” he said.

FORAS member and Sultans’ of Ping drummer, Morty McCarthy, said: “I've always been known for wearing different jerseys in the band and we were really excited about the idea when the lads in FORAS reached out to me before the summer. From looking at early mock-ups to seeing the final jersey in the flesh, we couldn't be happier.”

The one-off FORAS x Sultans O’Neill’s shirt will not be available in stores but can be bought from forastrust.ie/sultans up until 20 October. Prices start at €39 for children and €49 for adult sizes. All funds will go to Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, a branch of Down Syndrome Ireland providing further education and preparation for entering the workplace.

Meanwhile, Cork City FC fans will be feeling rather ‘chipper’ after the release of a special jersey commemorating the much-loved chip shop, Jackie Lennox’s, which closed its Bandon Road premises in October last year.

The white jersey has a retro Cork City FC crest from the early ‘90s and a Lennox’s logo across the front. The jersey was created by the club’s own Rebel Army Clothing.

Speaking about the shirt, Brian Lennox said: “Cork City FC always supported Lennox’s and we were thrilled when they asked us to collaborate on this special edition jersey. It is very heartening to know that the people of Cork still hold a special place for Lennox’s a year after we closed.”