There was an unusual visitor to the Sharp Group offices on January 29th, as the FAI Cup stopped off on a brief away trip from its current home at Shamrock Rovers FC.
The 2019 FAI Cup winners generously loaned the trophy for the day to mark Sharp Group’s continuing sponsorship of the club’s Under 15 National League squad.
This is the third year of Sharp Group’s support of SRFC’s underage team which covers matchday kit and training equipment. The Sharp Group logo will appear on the back of the players’ shirts.
The deal will run throughout the forthcoming SSE Airtricity National League season, which is set to begin in March 2020.
The Hoops’ Under 15 squad offers a pathway to first-team football with the FAI Cup holders, who lifted the trophy last November after beating Dundalk on penalties.
“This is a partnership between two recognised brands. Shamrock Rovers is the Republic of Ireland’s most successful club and Sharp Group is the leading wholly-owned Irish fire and security provider,” says Jason Shields, Finance Director at Sharp Group and head coach of the Hoops’ Under I5 National League Squad. “The professionalism, structure and ethics that the club shows to all its employees reflect the core values we have as a company,” he adds.
Shane Robinson, Academy Director with Shamrock Rovers said: “It’s brilliant for us to have the support of a sponsor like Sharp Group. Thanks to their generous support, the boys wear the exact same jersey as the Rovers first team.
“Sharp Group contributes towards the overall costs involved in coaching these kids, and that enables us to do things that we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise, like playing opposition from Premier League clubs and clubs in Germany and Finland.
“It gives the players a taste of top-class football while being able to continue their studies at home, and to see a pathway towards a professional career here in Ireland.”
Sharp Group’s community involvement stretches beyond football. Jason is also a Director of Youth Horizons, a local charity that offers a programme that gives early school leavers a chance to complete their education to Leaving Cert standard.
With over two decades’ experience of delivering high-quality tailored security products and services to customers across Ireland, the Hoops could be safe in the knowledge that its hard-won trophy was in safe hands at Sharp Group HQ.