A historic Northern Irish football club joins the family Macron. The Italian brand, an international leader in the teamwear sector and Glentoran FC They have announced the partnership which, from next season, will see the Macron Hero logo feature prominently on the shirts of the Glens. The agreement provides for the supply of all technical clothing and the production of game kit characterised by the quality and technical sophistication of the materials, as well as by an innovative, bespoke design that perfectly captures the identity, symbols and history of the Belfast club.

Glentoran FC was founded in 1882 by a group of workers from the local shipyards and has always maintained an identity rooted in its industrial heritage in East Belfast. It is one of three Northern Irish teams never to have been relegated from the top flight and It can boast over 130 titles in its list of achievements, including 23 IFA Premiership titles, 23 Irish Cups and 7 Irish Football League Cups. Among their European cup campaigns, the two-legged tie against Eusebio’s Benfica remains undoubtedly significant; Glentoran went out of that tie with their heads held high, eliminated only because of the away goals rule.

Among the Glens supporters in the stands at The Oval was a very young George Best, whom his grandfather used to take along to watch the matches. Best was ‘rejected’ by Glentoran because he was considered ‘small and light’ at the time, but he did manage, towards the end of his career, to wear that shirt after all – just once – in a friendly match against Manchester United to mark the Irish club’s centenary.

“We are delighted to be able to begin this partnership with a club as rich in history and trophies as Glentoran FC. – he declared Gianluca Pavanello, CEO of Macron – Being able to ‘tell the story’ of 143 years of history through the shirts we’ll be creating is incredibly inspiring. We want to support the club and its fans as they strive towards new and significant sporting achievements, and to create unique collections for them that best embody the spirit of this great team ”.

Ali Pour, owner of Glentoran Football Club, said:“This partnership with Macron marks a milestone in our long-term vision for Glentoran. As we continue to modernise and professionalise every aspect of the club, it is essential that we align ourselves with partners who share our ambition, our values and our commitment to excellence.”. Macron is a globally respected brand with a proven track record in elite sport, renowned for innovation, quality and sustainability – all of which are central pillars for our future. We are proud to welcome them into the Glentoran family as we work together to improve our kit, training and apparel for all aspects of the club.”