Isuzu UK has reached an agreement with the Irish Football Association to become the Official Commercial Vehicle Partner to the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup.

The 2022-23 Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup began on the 13^th of August, with the fifth-round draw in this season’s hotly contested competition taking place on the 6^th of December. The final of the 143rd edition of the premier knockout competition in Northern Ireland football will be held next May at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

With this new partnership, Isuzu UK is expanding its goal to become the driving force behind domestic football with a partnership already in place in England, with the Isuzu FA Vase and Isuzu FA Trophy.

The Pick-up Professionals at Isuzu dealerships across Northern Ireland will be getting actively involved with their local clubs, with some having already started making preparations for local sponsorship deals and promotional matchday activations. 

The Irish Cup was first contested in 1881 and is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Current holders Crusaders defeated Ballymena United 2-1 after extra time in the final back in May thanks to goals from Josh Robinson and Johnny McMurray – and they will no doubt be keen to retain the trophy this season.

William Brown, Managing Director, Isuzu UK, said: “We are extremely delighted to announce this new partnership with the Irish Football Association and the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup. The agreement further demonstrates Isuzu UK’s commitment and support for football at all levels in the UK and expands our involvement in Northern Ireland while also complementing our existing partnerships with The Football Association in England and the Welsh Rugby Union.

He continued “We are looking forward to actively supporting the teams involved in this year’s competition and can’t wait for the next round.”

Stephen Bogle, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Irish FA, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Isuzu UK as an official partner to the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup. We look forward to working with the Isuzu UK team to support their plans for football across Northern Ireland in the coming years.”