Linfield ‘UVF’ kit row: ‘Some people just go out of their way to be offended’

A long-time Linfield fan has said that some people are “going out of their way to be offended” after an online spat broke out over the club’s new kit – due to alleged similarities between it and a UVF flag.
The now-deleted tweet from Stan CollymoreThe now-deleted tweet from Stan Collymore
The now-deleted tweet from Stan Collymore

Charlie Butler, secretary of the Jumna Street Linfield Supports’ Club off the Shankill Road in Belfast, made the comments after a string of people online – including former England international Stan Collymore – drew attention to the colour scheme of the kit.

The new away strip is purple with a dash of orange, and Mr Collymore posted a picture of it next to a UVF flag, which has a similar colour scheme.

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Mr Collymore posted the message on Twitter but it was later deleted. Many others joined in, alleging the same link.

Others came to the club’s defence though; one Twitter user called Tom Watson (@StampsAndCovers) said: “Do you not think that the abusive comments about what is, after all, a football top – similar to one designed for Manchester City – says more about the small-minded bigoted mindset of the writers?”

Mr Butler, aged 66, said he has been a Linfield fan since he was a child.

He told the News Letter: “It’s a kit – some people will like it, some people won’t like it. Personally I see nothing wrong with it. If it sells well for the club, happy days.

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“I think it’s just the world’s gone mad. I was reading this morning that somebody says there is a red line up the sock, and it’s really an agenda that ‘we are up to our knees in Fenian blood’.

“Another said there’s red at the collar so it’s ‘we are up to our neck in Fenian blood’.

“It’s a lot of nonsense. Linfield to be honest, and their supporters, stopped becoming sectarian very long time ago.

“We ourselves here in Jumna Street have had Catholic Linfield players up here with Protestant Linfield players, watching the Rangers–Celtic match. That was last season.

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“A couple of weeks ago, members of our club, and we also have a Rangers club in here, went onto the Falls Road with a Celtic supporters club and applauded the NHS.

“I think it’s people going out of their way to be offended. Plain and simple.”

Asked what he thinks of the actual kit itself, he said: “It maybe wouldn’t be my cup of tea... maybe it’ll grow on me.”

Linfield FC has said the kit “was excellently designed by our long term kit suppliers Umbro can be proudly worn in action by all our teams”.

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The News Letter tried to make contact with the club but got no response, and at time of writing the club had not issued a statement on its social media.

The shirts are £50 for adults, £40 for youths, and shorts are £20. To buy them, go here:

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