The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has announced a new multi-year collaboration with the English sportswear brand, Castore. The agreement, under which Castore will become the association’s official kit supplier and retail partner, is already in effect with the new home kit being unveiled on March 20.
The agreement was revealed shortly after the FAI announced its new brand identity, the organisation’s first upgrade in nearly 20 years.
With Castore’s commitment to the FAI e-commerce platform and a preference for physical retail and sports retail outlets to gain bigger visibility for the kit in Ireland and internationally, the relationship will improve the level of customer experience for supporters.
The FAI was Castore’s first national side in football, a milestone for the sportswear company as it pursues global expansion. The cooperation, which represents a sizable business arrangement for both Castore and the FAI, ensures that all international teams, in the coming years, will have cutting-edge and fashionable uniforms.
Jonathan Hill, CEO of Football Association of Ireland, commented, “This is an exciting time for the Association as we announce a new kit partner, a new shirt and a new crest for our international teams. In Castore we believe we have found an ambitious and forward-looking partner who share our desire to move forward confidently and positively into a new era for the FAI and Irish football. Importantly, this is a significant commercial deal for the Association which helps us in our core strategic objective of creating a more stable financial base for the business and for the game as a whole.”
Castore, Founder, Tom Beahon, said, “We are extraordinarily proud that Castore will have the honour of producing the iconic Ireland jersey until 2028 and we fully understand the responsibility we have to carry on that tradition and history. Along with our financial commitment to the FAI, we will invest significantly into the FAI’s e-commerce infrastructure, providing a best-in-class online shop for Ireland fans home and abroad and will align with the FAI’s strategic ambition to embrace digital technologies to better connect with all fans.”