Airdrie will display a late fan’s image on their shirts after sponsorship deal
Thursday 15 December 2016 15:26, UK
Airdrie are receiving replica kit orders from around the world after agreeing a deal with the club’s supporters' trust to have a late fan's image on their shirts.
The Airdrieonians Supporters' Trust have agreed to be the Diamonds' new sponsor until the end of the season, with fundraiser Mark Allison's face adorning the strip, which comes after he raised nearly £80,000 for charities before passing away from pancreatic cancer in June at the age of 49.
The Scottish League One side have already sold out of the new replica shirts, including to fans of others sides in Scotland such as Motherwell, Aberdeen and Rangers, and are taking orders from around the world, with at least another 80 confirmed purchases. The club usually only sells around 150 shirts each season.
A club statement said: "In a five-figure deal lasting till the end of the season, the sponsorship is truly unique in world football, and we are sure it will meet with the approval of Airdrie fans everywhere.
"The Trust and club have agreed that the image of legendary diamond fundraiser Mark Allison will appear on his beloved Airdrie shirt, a gesture everyone will see fitting. It will also be the first time in world football - as far as we know - that the image of a fan has appeared on a club shirt."
Mark's F**K Cancer campaign raised just under £80,000 thanks to various fundraising activities including sponsored walks, music gigs and the auctioning off of prized pairs of adidas trainers of which he was a huge fan.
It did not take long for the first 100 strips to sell out last weekend, with Airdrie saying they have ordered 200 more from their supplier which will arrive in March.
"If possible, one of the most recognisable strips in world football just became even more iconic," Airdrie commercial manager Douglas Allsop said.
"From a supply point of view, we are now forewarning people that we will not have enough to meet demand. We know that people who do not normally buy strips will be looking for one, due to their association with Mark.
"While football strips come and go, we know that Mark's image on this one makes it timeless."
Anyone wishing to order a strip can email Douglas Allsop at douglas.allsop@airdriefc.com
