Hull FC have unveiled their 2024 charity jersey, proudly supporting Alzheimer’s Society, as the club aims to highlight the importance of early dementia diagnosis.
The limited edition jersey, which will be worn by the first-team squad during our Charity & Inclusion Fixture against St Helens at the MKM Stadium on Saturday 3rd August, is on sale now online, and in store from 9.00am on Friday.
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and almost one million people are living with the condition, yet a third of people affected have not received a diagnosis. The Hull FC community is one that has been deeply affected in recent seasons; ex-players James Leuluai and David Doyle-Davidson, as well as former head coach Royce Simmons, are all currently living with the effects of the disease, while Tony Duke, Chris Davidson and George Robinson have all sadly lost their battles with the illness in the last 18-months.
Produced by merchandise partners Castore®, the shirt features imagery and newspaper headlines from some of the club’s most iconic moments throughout our 159 year history, including our 2016 Challenge Cup Final victory, and our 1983 homecoming victory parade following our Challenge Cup and RL Championship success, as well as photos of legendary players including Johnny Whiteley MBE and David Topliss.
The design sees the imagery fade towards the top of the shirt – during the fixture against the Saints, the club have been granted special dispensation from the RFL for players to play without their names on the back of their jerseys – both elements aim to draw attention to how people with dementia lose precious memories, even the names of their favourite players, signifying one of the cruellest symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia in memory loss.
As well as carrying the charity’s eye-catching ‘forget-me-not’ blue tone across the collar and sleeve cuffs, the Alzheimer’s Society logo takes pride of place on the front of the shirt, with main club partner Ecostrad proudly forgoing their sponsorship rights which would ordinarily see them feature on the shirt – instead, Ecostrad takes pride in supporting Alzheimer’s Society in their vision of a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.