Vaughan questions new boot initiative
The Cork-born Ballinrobe man manages shoe shops in his hometown as well as Claremorris and admits the low prices on boots offered on the website are likely to have an impact on his business.
Vaughan’s team-mate Cillian O’Connor was among the five ambassadors named at the launch of the website in Croke Park last month. Both the GAA and the GPA have backed the initiative.
However, Vaughan, who currently supplies boots to his fellow Mayo footballers, queries what inter-county players will gain from the enterprise.
“I’m not anti-competition and I’d support anything that offers good value and the GPA are endorsing it but I’ll be honest and say I don’t know will we ever see anything out of it,” he said.
“We receive our grant but most lads that get anything out of the GPA are the lads based in Dublin, to be fair.
“Cillian was an ambassador for the gaelicboots and I’d have no hassle with him if he got a few pound out of it. I’d be delighted for him.
“Don’t get me wrong, the GPA have done an awful lot of good work — their scholarship programmes and the benevolent fund, for example. Maybe some of the money goes towards that but I’d say the vast majority of people [players] won’t get too much out of it.”
Gaelicboots.com is a joint GAA-GPA commercial venture with profits generated going towards player welfare and development programmes.
With the website having only been launched last month, Vaughan hasn’t yet experienced any negative impact. However, he anticipates it could cause difficulties for his business in the future.
“We’ve a few shops here, we sell sports gear and we do sell a few football boots. The boots they are selling are very good value so you could say it’s affecting me a bit.
“But in fairness I’d still be selling boots to most of the lads [Mayo team-mates]. They’d give me the shout.
“I was looking at their [Adidas] World Cup boots, for example, and they’re selling at €80. I’d hardly be able to buy it for that!
“It hasn’t affected me yet but I would be conscious of the price they’re selling stuff at.”
Former Armagh captain and his county’s current Central Council delegate Jarlath Burns has already expressed his concern about the venture.
Earlier this month, he tweeted: “Worried about that deal GAA has made re gaelicboots.com . Sports Direct behind it. This will wipe out small Irish sports shops.
“Think GAA Store, Elvery’s Sports etc etc. all GAA sponsors, all in straits already and now this...
“The couple of pound [people] will save has a far-reaching effect right into the hearts of small towns in Ireland.
“We all know the local man. The first person the club goes to for a bit of sponsorship. Best of luck asking Sports Direct.”
In 2006, Elverys Sports, sponsors of Mayo GAA, were named the official retail partner to Croke Park with a 15,000 square metre superstore opened on Jones Road.
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