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 tournament began on 13 August, with the fifth round draw in this season’s hotly contested competition taking place on 6 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.

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.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with the Irish Football Association and the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup,” said William Brown, Managing Director, Isuzu UK.

“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.

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

“We’re delighted to welcome Isuzu as an official partner added Stephen Bogle, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Irish FA.

“We look forward to working with the Isuzu team to support their plans for football across Northern Ireland in the coming years.”

In what has been a winning week for the Irish FA Cathedral Eye Clinic has also signed up as the official eye health partner to the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup in a multi-year deal.

Based in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the company runs the most advanced laser eye surgery treatment clinic in Ireland. In its state-of-the-art facilities, it offers a world-class patient experience with quality care, clinical excellence, and patient safety as key tenets.

It will activate the partnership now over the next three years.