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24th Mar 2016

Ireland’s most beautiful home jersey was mystifyingly only worn once

Kevin McGillicuddy

Throwback Thursday is alive and well.

Ireland faces Switzerland tomorrow evening in the Aviva in the first of our warm-up games ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

It will be out 16th ever meeting with the ‘make chocolate not war’ lovers and the first since 2005.

But it’s been brought to our attention that almost 31 years ago, in 1985, perhaps the best Irish home jerseys of all time was worn, but only once, in a game, ironically against the Swiss.

https://twitter.com/irelandsocshirt/status/712766554149138432

That v-collar, the simple crest and the shamrock on the sleeve adds up to an absolute O’Neill’s classic.

It also proved to be a good omen, as Ireland beat the Swiss 3-0 at home, and managed a 0-0 draw in our unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign for Mexico ’86.

What a shame this beauty did not get a chance to shine under the hot South American sun.

Undated: Tony Grealish of the Republic of Ireland in action during a World Cup qualifying match against Switzerland in the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland won the match 3-0. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport

Class.

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