Bohemians' new Bob Marley inspired away jersey has attracted interest from far beyond Ireland, according to the club's commercial director.
Bohs sparked much comment when they unveiled their new away jersey this morning, which bears the likeness of Bob Marley on the front.
In a unique move, Bohs said it was a nod to the musical history of Dalymount Park.
A statement read: "Dalymount Park has played a unique part – chiefly in the sporting – but also in the musical and cultural history of Ireland.
"The Home of Irish Football was graced in the 1970s by Thin Lizzy and the Boomtown Rats, in the 1980s by Bob Marley, Meatloaf and Black Sabbath, and in the 1990s by Faith No More, Sonic Youth, Ice Cube and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"This jersey, designed by Bohemian FC in conjunction with our new kit supplier O’Neills, gives a nod to that history – and to the stadium’s special place in the hearts of both football and music fans."
We are delighted to reveal our 2019 away jersey. Designed by #Bohs in conjunction with our new kit suppliers O’Neills, it gives a nod to Dalymount's special place in the hearts of football and music fans. Available for pre-order in time for Christmas:
https://t.co/gCjzKUSiJK ?? pic.twitter.com/H6ZMlIMLQA
Bohemians, fourth in the LOI roll of honour, enjoyed a hugely successful decade in the noughties, winning four league titles, including doubles in both 2001 and 2008.
However, the club fell into financial difficulties at the turn of the decade, sliding down the pecking order and switching to a members-owned model.
The club appears buoyant at present, however, with attendances on the increase and improving on-field performances under the management of Keith Long.
Speaking on Game On RTÉ 2fm, the Bohs commercial director Daniel Lambert said the club had tried to re-define themselves in recent years.
"A lot of what we've done as a club in the last five or six years, we've tried to re-define ourselves I suppose," he told presenter Hugh Cahill.
"A lot of League of Ireland clubs over the years, their marketing and how they present themselves has been very one-dimensional, in a space where clubs are up against the marketing might of the Premier League.
"You can't go up against that marketing power that the Premier League has and the grip it has on the country and just go with standard marketing messages.
"So, we've tried to go with different things. Around the stadium, for instance, we've graffiti murals, one of them is of Bob Marley, one is of Phil Lynott.
"We've obviously done a lot of work in the local area. We've grown attendances. We've worked really hard as a club, we're all volunteers."
Lambert added that the jersey has already attracted more orders than they - or indeed any league of Ireland club - could hope to attract with an away strip.
"It's on every football site in the world. It's in Germany, it's in India, South America. The orders are coming in. It's great for us. As a members owned club, we don't have private investment. In a week when Dundalk are breaking records - and hats off to them, they're an amazing team - we're getting a lot of publicity around the world.
"You need to be clever as a members owned club when you don't have the financial muscle that other clubs might have with private investment, you have to think outside the box.
"Some people are totally against it. But the reality is, with League of Ireland clubs, your jersey sales for your away jerseys are pretty low. This has totally smashed any away sales that we could expect to get."
The shirt will be used for 2019 SSE Airtricity League season.
