After months of waiting, the first leaked images of the new Ireland jersey made by New Balance emerged late last night.
Following 23 years with Umbro, many Irish fans who would have been hoping to buy the new jersey weren't born the last time Umbro didn't make it, so there was always going to be curiosity as to how the boys in green were going to look for the rest of the World Cup qualification campaign.
We described it as a neat and tidy effort, which it is, as they were clearly playing it safe and not trying anything too extreme, and we are adamant that it will look better once we see it on the players as leaked images rarely do a jersey justice... But it's clear that most Ireland fans are unimpressed, with blandness being the main issue.
Some of the reactions we received on social media were hilarious, so we thought we'd compile them to get a view as to how the fans feel initially.
If this jersey was a scoreline it would be a 0-0 nothing special. https://t.co/QlJtOnSlIf
— David O'Brien (@MrDavidOBrien) August 1, 2017
That is the worst jersey we have ever had? it's absolutely horrendous! New Balance's contract should be torn up immediately #shockingattempt
— Graham Okeeffe (@irishgeordie86) August 1, 2017
It's like something you would see in pennies! It's fucking shocking ??
— Graham Okeeffe (@irishgeordie86) August 1, 2017
It looks like something Heatons would be selling during a World Cup pic.twitter.com/xvnAcxxOGf
— Conor Gillespie (@ConorGillespie1) August 1, 2017
Said it as soon as NB were announced.. Another term of muck jerseys. Umbro were terrible.. NB are worse!
— Ciaran Flynn (@FlynnCiaran) August 1, 2017
Another shocker i havent seen NB make a nice shirt anywhere with any of the clubs even
— Stephen Flood (@wing1978) August 1, 2017
I'll sum that fuckin jersey up in one fuckin word. Meh.
— Graham White (@grahamwhite73) August 1, 2017
It matches the brand of football we play
— Eoghan Kelly (@eoghankel) August 1, 2017
It's cat, No life in it. As dull as dike water ??
— Killarney Knight (@KillarneyKnight) August 1, 2017
@newbalance Lads, if this is the new Ireland jersey please please please have a rethink!! It's dreadful, we deserve better!! pic.twitter.com/zp9llTa4yk
— James Grogan (@Jimbo_G_81) August 1, 2017
Ireland jersey is brutal. But what did they expect signing up to New Balance. Their Celtic/Rovers/Pool jerseys are awful as well. Bland.
— Keith ✋️ (@maclaithimh) August 1, 2017
The new Ireland jersey will look great with a pair of boot cut jeans and a nice pair of crocs @FAIreland #COYBIG
— mark raftery (@mark_raftery) August 1, 2017
Safe to say, it didn't go down well.
Again, it will look a thousand times better once the official photos featuring the players are released, but the final Umbro release for Euro 2016 was a massive hit, so New Balance had a lot to live up to, and judging by the early reaction it fell short of expectations. But give it time.
We haven't even seen the away one yet!
