A local football club has made headlines for a creative kit collaboration that blends football with music - but what's next?
Cwmbran Celtic's new music-inspired sponsorship has attracted attention from Irish band Fontaines D.C, whose lead singer Grian Chatten wore Cwmbran Celtic’s Mogwai-branded away kit during the group’s headline set at Reading Festival on August 28.
Connor Cupples, co-commercial manager at Cwmbran Celtic, said: "It's been amazing to see Grian support the club and grassroots music venues across the UK, the response to him wearing the shirt at Reading and the shirt releases as a whole as been brilliant".
Mr Cupples said that the club will be shipping shirts to almost 30 countries - and two more shirts are going to be realised at the end of September.
He continued: "We are going to be shipping shirts to 29 counties so far!
"We are also going to be releasing two more shirts at the end of the month, with a few artists closer to home".
After the excitement of Friday evening, which saw Cwmbran Celtic FC tagged in a post on Fontaines D.C.'s Instagram - the account has 1.1 million followers - the club has decided to send Mr Chatten a lifetime season ticket in thanks for the unexpected publicity.
However, the collaboration goes beyond fashion, with profits from shirt sales supporting both the club and grassroots music venues across the UK.
The shirts are part of Cwmbran Celtic’s new music-inspired sponsorship for the 2026/27 season, featuring four independent bands as sponsors.
Matt Jarrett, joint commercial manager at the club, said: "Myself and fellow commercial manager Connor Cupples both come from music backgrounds.
"I co-own a record shop in Newport and Connor promotes shows across the country.
"Both of us have put on numerous gigs in grassroots venues, and it was obvious there were massive similarities across the two worlds.
"It seemed a no-brainer to link the two – and luckily, the bands all embraced the idea and gave it their blessing".
The men’s away kit features the name of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, while the men’s home kit is sponsored by Super Furry Animals.
Most of the funds raised from shirt sales will go towards running the club’s six senior teams, veterans, walking football, and a full junior programme for boys and girls.
Ten per cent of the profit from each shirt sold will be donated to the Music Venue Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting grassroots music venues across the UK.
Mr Cupples said: "Grassroots football and grassroots music venues are fighting the same fight.
"They're where it all starts, they run on passion and tight budgets, and when one disappears a community loses something it can't easily get back.
"To have four bands of this calibre on our shirts – and to send a share of every sale to Music Venue Trust – means this kit stands for far more than a season of football."
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