O'Neills vs. Azzurri

henke

Just something I have being wondering lately is how do intercounty teams decide what manufacturer to go with? What I don't understand is that all intercounty teams bar a couple go with O'Neills and then just a few with Azzurri (including us Donegal).

I despise the Azzurri jerseys and wish we would switch back to O'Neills who all the other top counties are with and make nicer jerseys. Azzurri look like cheap copies of O'Neills jerseys, although they have improved slightly over the years, Still really wish we would go back to O'Neills though.

I would imagine every County would get similar prices on shirts so why would some Counties go for a different manufacturer?

Also, do the Counties and company sign contracts like as in soccer, eg. four year deal with adidas? Just wondering this to see if there is any prospect we will ever switch back.

Cheers

hardybuck

You'll find money is the main motivating factor here, except in Waterfod's case - where the company is owned and based.

Normally a shirt design is continued for a fixed amount of years depending on the individual county board's preference. This is to protect the supporters - they'll run them for 3-4 years often. I presume this will be the deal they'll sign with the manufacturer.

Agreed on Azzurri jersey quality, but I think the leisure range is very good.

henke

hardybuck wrote: »

You'll find money is the main motivating factor here, except in Waterfod's case - where the company is owned and based.

Normally a shirt design is continued for a fixed amount of years depending on the individual county board's preference. This is to protect the supporters - they'll run them for 3-4 years often. I presume this will be the deal they'll sign with the manufacturer.

Agreed on Azzurri jersey quality, but I think the leisure range is very good.

Yeah I hate their jerseys but they do have some nice other leisure range where they use their 'A' logo. Don't like the logo they use on their jerseys and the logo they used to use on their jerseys was a complete rip off of the one O'Neills use as it was the same font.

I don't know I think Donegal have changed their home shirt every two years since joining up Azzurri. I can already recall a good few of them, their getting slightly better since they started out but don't think their on a par with O'Neills styles. I guess Donegal will probably stick with them so if they are offering more money than O'Neills.

hardybuck

Don't forget Donegal changed sponser a couple of years also - this would have prompted a change.

Mountainlad

They have definetly improved on what they were at the start....the early jerseys were shocking to be honest.

Would also agree about the Leisure range as regards Waterford gear. There's any amount of replica jerseys, polo shirts, training tops, hoodies, jackets and such available now...it's great

henke

They only make jerseys for 4 Counties. Wonder why is that? Or will they expand to other Counties? Yeah their leisure range is decent enough to be fair.

theoneeyedman

Have no real truck with either company but our club has a mix ofoniells and azzurri fordifferent teams and quality is comparible tbh. Our ladies team has an surrounding set for 4 years and they are still fine. I persoally sourced a set foroir minor lads a few years ago andbiggest difference was attitude of the sales reps. Oniells lad had a take it or leave it attitude whereas Mr mcevoy from azzurri was more than helpful.

hugebogtotter

I think it would be a more positive move if a few others moved over to Azurri. O'Neills have had a monoply on the GAA for far too long I think. Jersey prices are ridiculous at the moment.

mullane13

Azzurri first came onto the GAA scene in a major way in 2003 when they began producing the Waterford gear. As a Waterford man I think its nice to see them doing well enough with regards to the amount of clubs they do jerseys and gear for. As far as I know there are clubs from 21 counties who are using Azzurri products. Thats a decent amount and I think that in another couple of years the monopoly O'Neills had/have will be decreasing more and more. As a few of you stated already, the quality of the Azzurri gear used be very dodgy but they're getting better. The leisure range they offer club and county is very nice and very affordable too.

My own club has dealt with the company for the last 5 years maybe, and I can honestly say we've never had a problem with them. Their prices are slightly cheaper than O'Neills but its the customer service that helps make our mind up when the club is shelling out for new gear. If we place an order for 30 jerseys, nicks and socks we'll have them in the club in a very good time. I remember back to the last time we bought stuff from O'Neills it was a nightmare and we had to wait an age for gear. Thats the reason we changed. Its nice to see a small, locally owned business take on the big company that held the monopoly for years. Hopefully they can continue to improve the quality of the jerseys, but other than that they're very good and I would definately recommend over O'Neills anyday.

theoneeyedman

Like I said earlier I found azzurri customer service excellent any time I've dealt with them. I was sourcing Jerseys for a 13 a side minor team and wanted 20 shirts. Oniells only interested in selling 30 Jerseys and pushing socks and shorts, while azzurri had no problem with quantities, and were very flexible with mixing different sizes etc. As previous poster said quality is improving and IMO not much difference between them at this stage. I also see a number of other firms like jako, masita, producing Jerseys now and I'd be interested in anyone who has dealt with them. We recently sourced leisure wear from PF sport in Mullingar and they were very easy to deal with

bungaro79

we got some kukari jerseys for the schools teams and they are really really good quality and design and the teacher who was doing the deal said they were alot more competitive than o'neills.

could be totally wrong in saying this but are mens teams only allow wear o'neills (or azzuri)??? lots of ladies teams getting their gear made by other companies now i think.

rebel girl 15

The GAA logo can only be put on certain suppliers - GAA have given licenses to a number of companies to produce gear with the GAA logo - list is here http://www.gaa.ie/tickets-and-merchandise/approved-suppliers/

The ladies have started the same practise with their new logo - Perform, Masita and O Neills definitely have it, not too sure about Azzurri yet - but anyone can use the old ladies logo on the gear

Tiocfaidh Armani

hugebogtotter wrote: »

I think it would be a more positive move if a few others moved over to Azurri. O'Neills have had a monoply on the GAA for far too long I think. Jersey prices are ridiculous at the moment.

Are Azzuri cheaper to buy from though? €60 is far too much though, I like O'Neills and buy stuff on a fairly regular basis.

henke

By the sounds of this thread Azzurri are better to deal with so I actually wouldn't mind now if Donegal stuck with them, if they could improve the styles of their jerseys.

I would like to see them try create their own style as opposed similar to O'Neills but just not as good as. They should use their 'A' logo on their jerseys too instead of 'Azzurri Sport'. Also, is it mandatory that the GAA badge is to the left, jersey maker logo centre and club crest to the right. O'Neills done this first. Azzurri should try their own look and rejig it a bit.

My point is in soccer you can tell the difference between an Adidas jersey, Umbro jersey and a Nike jersey without seeing their logo. They all have their own styles. Azzurri have the leisurewear sussed so if they can deliver their own unique brand of quality jerseys I am happy to see them challenge O'Neills.

Cill Dara Abu

4 teams? Laois, Donegal, Waterford and ????

henke

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

4 teams? Laois, Donegal, Waterford and ????

Sligo

theoneeyedman

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

4 teams? Laois, Donegal, Waterford and ????

Sligo?

ArtVandelay76

Did a company called GAA Gear used to make the Galway and Wexford jerseys?

mrgaa1

the quicker the GAA allow Nike, Umbro etc... in the better. Better competition, better quality and much lower pricing. O'Neills don't make all their stuff in Strabane - unless there is a Strabane outside Hong Kong.

Tiocfaidh Armani

mrgaa1 wrote: »

the quicker the GAA allow Nike, Umbro etc... in the better. Better competition, better quality and much lower pricing. O'Neills don't make all their stuff in Strabane - unless there is a Strabane outside Hong Kong.

Lower pricing? Have you seen the price of footy tops made by these companies? For certain counties there's a low market for sales so would Nike and Umbro make a big effort for the likes of Longford if they got the contract? I doubt it.

rebel girl 15

ArtVandelay76 wrote: »

Did a company called GAA Gear used to make the Galway and Wexford jerseys?

Gaelic Gear was the name of the company - went bust about three or four years ago afaik

RT2010

Tiocfaidh Armani wrote: »

Are Azzuri cheaper to buy from though? €60 is far too much though, I like O'Neills and buy stuff on a fairly regular basis.

€60 per jersey?? We recently got a set of jerseys from Oneills and they were nowhere near that. The modern tight fitting style jerseys are significantly cheaper than the older heavier ones

Frank Spencer

RT2010 wrote: »

€60 per jersey?? We recently got a set of jerseys from Oneills and they were nowhere near that. The modern tight fitting style jerseys are significantly cheaper than the older heavier ones

€38 per jersey including everything.