Bohs team up with Massive Attack for new shirt

Bohs’ European run may have ended in tears following a controversial loss against Danish side FC Midtjylland, but their international escapades aren’t over yet.

The Dalymount Park side, who have collaborated with the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap in the past on unique shirt designs, have teamed up with trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack for their new shirt.

Massive Attack, recently in the headlines following a controversial gig in Singapore where they displayed the Gaza flag and were banned from the country, have become the latest music group to collaborate with the Northside team.

The jersey will help raise funds for medical aid to Cuba, with 30% being distributed to Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal and mediCuba-Europe.

Massive Attack selected Cuba Vive, the medical aid appeal set up by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, which works directly with the Cuban health workers’ union and Ministry of Health and has delivered six consignments of medicines, surgical equipment and hospital supplies to date.

Bohemians chose MediCuba Europe, a network of solidarity organisations from thirteen countries that has worked with the Cuban health sector since 1997, supplying pacemakers, high-tech equipment and solar power to keep hospitals running through blackouts. 

The collaboration pays homage to Cuban shirt designs of the past; underneath the collar is a quote from Che Guevara’s father “in my son’s veins, flowed the blood of the Irish rebels”.

The crest is in the Irish language. The words “love is a doing word,” a lyric from the 1998 hit Teadrop, adorn the inside neck tape. 

The collar and cuffs are woven in black and red, the Bohemian FC club colours, and each sleeve carries three stitched stripes. An embroidered hem tag features Jim Fitzpatrick’s image of Che Guevara alongside his signature.

In a statement, Massive Attack said “we’re proud to follow the tradition of musicians who’ve collaborated with Bohemian F.C. to support a fan-owned football club, at the same time drawing attention to important social or political issues.”

“The strip design references the Irish connection to Che Guevara in terms of his ancestry and the iconic two-tone graphic created by Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick. It reproduces text of Che’s speeches that underline the importance of international solidarity in resisting colonial and neo-colonial imperialist aggressions. His words still contain resonance for the political struggles of today.

The group explained, “our nominated charities arrange urgent shipments of medical aid to Cuba, where vital hospital supplies are threatened by the Trump administration’s blockade of the island, an illegal act of collective punishment of the Cuban people.”

Daniel Lambert, Chief Commercial Officer of Bohemians, said, “we are delighted to unveil this jersey following months of work with Massive Attack and their team.”

“Massive Attack, through both their music and their activism, have inspired people across the world for generations. They consistently highlight and speak out about injustice, using their platform to bring about change and remaining unrelenting in their moral convictions. Their values are strongly aligned with the values of Bohemian F.C. from Palestine to climate justice and on many other issues.”

Lambert said, “the Irish people have a strong bond with the people of Cuba. The illegal blockade of the island has now run for over 60 years, it is worsening, and it is badly affecting the Cuban medical system. That we can work with Massive Attack to highlight this grave injustice and also raise funds to save lives on the island is important to us, and something we are grateful for.”