Who Pays for the Gear? How Irish Clubs Fund Club Teamwear

Every club has the same conversation each winter. The gear is worn out. The underage numbers are up. Somebody has to pay for it.

Teamwear is one of the largest recurring costs a club carries, and it seldom sits in a proper budget line. It gets paid for by a raffle, a sponsor and a lot of goodwill.

There is a better way to plan it. This guide sets out the four routes clubs use. It also shows how to build a kit budget that survives a change of committee.

First, The Question Everyone Asks

Does government sports funding cover jerseys?

Usually not. The main state scheme has been the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, now renamed the Community Sport Facilities Fund. It supports facilities and non-personal sports equipment.

Playing gear is personal equipment. Jerseys, shorts and tracksuits therefore fall outside what the scheme normally funds. Goals, nets, balls and training equipment are a different matter.

That is still worth knowing about. The last round was worth a record €250 million, and a new round has been expected during 2026. Clubs must register on the OSCAR system before they can apply. Read the current guide before you assume anything, because the rules change between rounds.

For gear itself, you need other routes.

Route One: A Club Shop With a Rebate

This is the route most clubs land on, and for good reason. Instead of the club buying gear and reselling it, members buy through an online shop in club colours. The club takes a percentage back on everything sold.

The advantages are real:

• No stock risk. The club is not sitting on forty unsold hoodies in the wrong sizes.
• No cash handling. Nobody is collecting envelopes at training.
• Steady income. Every hoodie a parent buys returns money to the club.
• Wider range. Supporters and families buy gear too, not just players.

Our Fam15 programme works this way. Clubs get 15% back on every online shop link over a two-year term. The shop opens around three times a year, for one to two weeks each time. We handle the packing and the delivery.

Run the shop windows well and this becomes the most reliable gear income a club has.

Route Two: Sponsorship That Lasts

Most club sponsorship is a one-season deal for a jersey front. It is easy to sell and easy to lose.

A stronger approach splits the club into several sponsorable assets:

• Jersey front, back and sleeve
• Training gear, which gets far more use than match jerseys
• Underage sides, often the easiest sell to local family businesses
• Kit bags, half zips and travel gear

Then agree multi-year terms. A three-year deal at a lower annual figure beats a one-year deal at a higher one. You get budget certainty and the sponsor gets a longer run of goodwill.

One practical tip. Confirm the sponsor logo and its position before your design is signed off. Adding a sponsor after production has started means a reorder.

Route Three: Packs And Bulk Buying

Unit price falls as order size rises. That is the whole game.

Two moves make the difference:

1. Order for the whole club at once, not team by team. The under-14s and the senior squad on the same order costs less per piece than two separate orders.
2. Buy in packs rather than single items. A bundled set of jersey, shorts and socks costs less than the same three items on their own.

Our teamwear packs are built around this. Two or three consolidated orders a year will beat a dozen small ones on price and on admin.

Route Four: Fundraising Tied to the Kit

Generic fundraising is hard work. Fundraising with something to show for it is easier.

Ideas that work for clubs:

• A jersey launch night. Reveal next season's kit and sell it on the night.
• A sponsor a player scheme. Local businesses cover one player's gear each.
• Retro jersey runs. Reissue an old design for an anniversary and sell it to supporters.
• A club shop window before Christmas. Family gear sells well in November.

Each of these gives people a reason to buy rather than just a reason to give.

Build a Three-Year Kit Cycle

Clubs get into trouble by replacing everything at once. Spread it out instead.

A simple cycle looks like this:

• Year one. Playing jerseys for all teams.
• Year two. Training gear and leisurewear.
• Year three. Outerwear, bags and accessories.
• Every year. Small top-up windows for new members and replacements.

This keeps annual spend steady and predictable. It also means no single committee gets handed the whole bill.

Write the cycle down and pass it on. That way the next kit officer inherits a plan rather than a problem.

For more on building a unified kit across all your club's teams, see our one club kit guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does the Sports Capital Grant cover club jerseys?

Normally no. The scheme covers facilities and non-personal sports equipment, and playing gear counts as personal. Check the current guide for your round before applying.

Q2. How much can a club shop actually raise?

It depends on membership size and how often the shop opens. The main drivers are the number of families buying and the number of windows you run each year.

Q3. Is it cheaper to order once a year or several times?

Fewer, larger orders are usually cheaper per piece. Most clubs settle on two or three ordering windows a year as the balance between price and flexibility.

Q4. What is the minimum order for custom club gear?

At GRG it is ten pieces, and those can be spread across different sizes.

Q5. Should we charge players for gear or cover it from club funds?

Most clubs do both. Playing jerseys tend to be club-funded and stay with the club. Members buy leisurewear and training gear through the club shop.

Get Your Kit Budget Under Control

Gear does not have to be the item that blows a club budget every year. With a shop, a sponsor, a pack order and a plan, it becomes predictable.

Talk to the GRG team about setting up a club shop.