Mayo FC launches new senior kit ahead of debut season

Mayo FC has taken another significant step towards its League of Ireland debut with the launch of the first senior men's kits at the TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar.

The home jersey is all green with red trim, while the away strip features a white shirt with red shorts. The kits were well received by the attendance.

The launch brought together club officials, sponsors, players, academy representatives, management, public representatives and members of the local media, with the occasion providing an opportunity to look ahead to what promises to be a landmark season for football in the county.

Mayo FC chairperson Joe Faughnan said the players would carry a particular responsibility when they took to the field.

“You carry not only the badge on your chest, but the hopes and aspirations of football people throughout the county and further afield,” he said. Mr Faughnan also paid tribute to everyone involved in bringing the club to League of Ireland.

The new senior jersey has three sponsors. Intersport Elverys occupies the front of the shirt, GVG Group appears on the back and Meissner Filtration is the third senior sponsor.

Pat Rowland, chief executive of Intersport Elverys, said the sponsorship brings together two sides of the company's sporting interests.

“Elverys has a long association with Mayo sport,” he said, “while the company's acquisition of Umbro in 2022 provided an opportunity to become more deeply involved in soccer. We've been delighted to support all sport across Mayo.” 

He explained that the company had first worked with Mayo FC through its academy before being approached about backing the senior team.

Mr Rowland also offered practical support throughout the season, telling the club's management that the company would do its best to assist whenever required.

The company's Mayo connections were echoed by GVG Group, whose message was read by Mayo FC board member Pat O'Sullivan.

GVG operates in areas including utilities, civil engineering, tunnelling, traffic management, technology and critical infrastructure in the UK, he told the meeting, but the company retains strong family and business connections with Mayo.

Its message stressed the significance of being involved in a project designed to provide a football pathway for young players in the county.

“Mayo has an incredible amount of talent,” the message stated, highlighting the opportunity for players to develop and test themselves at national level without necessarily having to leave Mayo.

GVG said it was proud to support the new club and hoped its involvement would help Mayo FC create something future generations of players and supporters could be proud of.

The launch also attracted strong political support.

Michael Ring, former Minister and now a member of the League of Ireland board, said he was particularly pleased to see Mayo join the National League structure. He thanked the sponsors and the club committee, while also encouraging further investment from businesses and supporters.

He pointed to the depth of footballing talent in Mayo and said the new team could provide an important opportunity for players to progress at home.

“We have the talent,” Mr Ring said. “I have no doubt that this team will go from strength to strength.” 

Senator Mark Duffy focused on the wider significance of the club's arrival on the national stage. He argued that Mayo football had previously faced limits on how far players could progress without leaving the county.

“Now we have raised that ceiling,” he said.

Sen. Duffy believes Mayo FC can raise standards throughout the game by giving younger players something to aspire to and providing a pathway into national competition. He also pointed to the unifying power of sport, drawing a connection between the excitement surrounding Mayo sport and the broader role a senior football team can play in bringing people together.

For first-team manager Anthony O'Neill, the launch marked the public beginning of a job he considers both an opportunity and a responsibility.

“It is an honour for me to be the first ever manager of Mayo Football Club in the National League and representing the county on a national stage,” he said.

Mr O’Neill, who comes from Galway and previously worked within the Galway United academy and senior structure, said Mayo deserved its place at a higher level of competitive football.

He has identified humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork as the core values that should underpin the team. He also believes the club's unusual position as a new organisation creates an opportunity to establish its identity from the ground up.

“A lot of players get to join a club. We get to build the club and that's different,” he said.

Mr O’Neill placed particular importance on the academy structure and the development of young players. His experience with Galway United showed him the importance of combining qualified coaching with investment and regular contact time.

“The talent is definitely there,” he said. “They just need the opportunity.” 

He believes Mayo FC can provide that opportunity by creating a pathway that allows young players to progress without having to move to Dublin, Galway, Sligo or elsewhere in search of higher-level football.

The new club has also attracted players from outside Mayo, with Mr O’Neill explaining that recruits from Galway, Athlone and Sligo responded positively when approached about joining the project.

The club has signed 13 players to date. The season commences at the end of the month.