Rare Ireland Jersey for Auction - Proceeds to FORAS
Freyne for FORAS
In July 1991, Cork City FC travelled to China to represent Ireland in the Shanghai Marlboro Cup. The competition consisted of two groups. Group A consisted on FC then Haag representing Holland, the Romanian Olympic Team and Shanghai. Group B consisted of the Olympic teams of Poland and China alongside Cork City.
As Cork City participated as an Irish representative side, a once-off Irish jersey incorporating the Cork City crest and sponsors Guinness was produced. Only two sets of player jerseys were prepared, making it among the rarest Cork City or Ireland jersey’s available, the shirts were never worn outside of the tournament games.
The jersey was generously donated to FORAS by Cork City Hall of Famer Patsy Freyne who remembered the competition fondly. “It was the trip of a lifetime. European trips are only three or four days, but it was over two weeks which is something that will probably never happen again. It was a chance of a lifetime and you don’t get chances like that in football. The Polish side that we played had got a 1-1 draw with Ireland in the European Championships a few months earlier I think. And we were playing the same side. It put everything in perspective.”
“The jerseys were once offs, that’s what makes them unique.” Freyne told Cork City’s ‘City Edition’ earlier this season, “Basically, because of the way the club is going, it’s the only reason I’d part with it”.
FORAS are extremely appreciative of Patsy's generosity in donating such a rare item and hope that the auction will be a huge success.
Patsy has also offered to sign the jersey for the winning bidder, if that is their preference.
Any questions can be forwarded to forastrust@gmail.com.
For details on FORAS, please go to www.forastrust.ie
We'll update with the eBay link later!
The photos attached are of the jersey and the Programme cover for the tournament.
