By Harry Walsh
A WELL-KNOWN DONEGAL business is to sponsor One Direction, it has emerged.
Brian McCormick Sports in Letterkenny is to provide the Adidas football kits and training wear for the Niall Horan Charity Football Challenge next Monday.
The challenge, put forward by One Direction’s Niall Horan, will see a team led by himself, take on a team led by British journalist and TV host Piers Morgan in a football match, in aid of charity.
The football match takes place at King Power Stadium, Leicester and the proceeds go to three charities; Irish Autism Action, Hearts and Minds and the LCFC Foxes Foundation.
Brian McCormick Sports’ Teamwear Department will kit out both teams with Adidas jerseys, shorts and socks for the game as well as an Adidas training top for each player.
They are currently busy preparing the order for the big event, for which over 10,000 tickets have been sold so far. Preparations include personalising the kits with the charity sponsor logos and also numbering the kits.
“We’re delighted to be asked and it’s our privilege to prepare teamwear for such a high profile event,” Brian McCormick said.
“Teamwear is a fast-paced and exciting industry to work in. It has really taken off for us in the last year and I’m happy to stay that we are now the largest supplier of Adidas teamwear in Ireland. We mostly deal with clubs all over Ireland but this is a great opportunity for us to break in to the UK market.”
A team from Brian McCormick Sports will travel to Leicester for the match, meet the teams and get some photos taken.
Due to a knee injury, Niall himself won’t be playing, rather he will be managing his team. Among the celebrity players on Team Niall are One Direction bandmates Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, as well Olly Murs, Ronan Keating, Mark Wright and ambassador for IAA Keith Duffy and his son Jay. Team Piers will also present a host of famous faces, including Rod Stewart, Martin Kemp, Shayne Ward, Mrs Brown’s Boys star Danny O’Carroll and Arsenal Legend Robert Pires.
“Adidas rang me and asked would I be able to supply both kits. They had a tight cut-off and needed to know that we could deliver on time. I had no hesitation in saying yes and now we’re working flat out to make sure everything is just right.
“Also, if it helps my daughter meet the lads from One Direction what could I say. Ciara is really excited, she is already planning her outfit,” he laughed.
Tweeting about the match, Piers Morgan said: “Big thanks to @brianmccormicks, @adidasuk @markmac14 for sorting out the kit for our big @NiallOfficial clash next Monday.”
Former Southampton and England player Matt Le Tissier tweeted: “Lookin 4ward to playing at the King Power Stadium on 26th May on @NiallOfficial team v @piersmorgan team. Come along and watch.”
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