Andy Devaney
In a move that marries football heritage with rock ‘n’ roll royalty, Bohemian FC, Ireland’s oldest football club and one of the few truly fan-owned operations left in the game, has launched a limited-edition FAI Cup shirt that pays tribute to Oasis — yes, that Oasis — in a collaboration that’s as unexpected as it is electrifying.
This isn’t your average replica kit. Oh no. This is a love letter to the ‘90s — to Dublin, to Manchester, to music, to community — stitched together with the kind of pride only Bohemian FC could pull off without looking like they’re trying too hard.
The shirt features the unmistakable Oasis logo splashed across the chest in the traditional blue of Dublin City. Add in some sublimated chevrons, a crisp white-and-blue collar, and sleeve trims that look like they were born on a Gallagher album cover, and you’ve got yourself a proper piece of kit.
Designed in-house by Bohemian FC and manufactured by the ever-reliable O’Neill’s Sportswear Ireland, it’s a jersey soaked in nostalgia and purpose. It’s available now, but you’ll need to move faster than a Noel Gallagher riff at www.oasis-bohemianfc.com.
But here’s the kicker — and no, I’m not talking about the set-piece variety. Every cent of profit from this shirt goes straight back into the heart of the communities it represents.
Fifty percent of the proceeds will go directly to Bohemian FC, supporting the club’s already groundbreaking community and football programmes — the kind of initiatives that make football more than just a game. The remaining 50% is split equally between Music Generation Ireland, helping disadvantaged young people across the country access music education, and Irish Community Care Manchester (ICCM), a group doing sterling work with the Irish diaspora in Manchester. Not one red cent goes to Oasis themselves. That’s right — the band’s involvement in this project is entirely charitable.
Bohemian FC said it best in their statement: “All profits from the shirt will be split between Bohemian FC and two charities. Fifty percent (50%) of the profits from the shirt will be used by Bohemian Football Club to help build on the club’s pioneering work across its football and community activities.
The other fifty percent (50%) will be split 25% to Music Generation Ireland, to allow disadvantaged kids across Ireland access music and 25% to Irish Community Care Manchester (ICCM), for their amazing work with the Irish community in the city. No proceeds will go to Oasis for their partnership and support of this project.”
Let’s not sugarcoat it — in an era where shirt releases are more often about squeezing fans for every penny, this is a refreshing slap across the face.
Bohemian FC have gone and made a statement that’s louder than a stadium chant: football still has soul, if you know where to look.
And if that soul just happens to be wearing a limited-edition Oasis shirt? Even better.
