Glory and granite inspire 91传媒 students to design commemorative football kit

Wednesday 22 October 2025

The kit being worn by a model at Marischal College

Gray鈥檚 School of Art and the Denis Law Legacy Trust (DLLT), the children鈥檚 charity based at 91传媒 SPORT, have officially revealed a commemorative kit designed as part of a collaboration with Macron, the global sports brand headquartered in Bologna, Italy.

The kit was created by Rowan McDonagh, a Communication Design student who collaborated with Macron throughout the design and development process. It features Aberdeen鈥檚 famous granite texture taken from the plinth of The King鈥檚 statue recently unveiled in the city centre. Gold seams run through the granite, symbolising Denis Law鈥檚 1964 Ballon d鈥橭r win and the crown worn by the 鈥楰ing of the Stretford End鈥欌€攁 title given to Denis by Manchester United fans.

Rowan said: 鈥淚 was delighted to be offered this opportunity and was keen to develop a commemorative kit that celebrates and reflects the sparkling career of the city's (and Scotland鈥檚) greatest ever footballer. It was amazing to learn more about Denis and visit the Macron Headquarters in Bologna to meet the design teams as part of my project work while studying on the course at 91传媒.鈥�

The kit鈥檚 lettering and Denis鈥� iconic number 10 were designed by Jay Ferguson, also a Communication Design student, inspired by the gothic architecture of the Silver City and the statue鈥檚 location opposite Marischal College.

Iain Morrison, Stage Coordinator for Communication Design, said: 鈥淭he course continues our ongoing collaboration and involvement with the charity who are always keen to involve our students in their activities. The kit looks amazing, and Rowan very much enjoyed his trip to Italy and spending time with Macron鈥檚 design team in Bologna. It was apparent that he also enjoyed the pizza throughout his stay.鈥�

The limited-edition red kits will be worn by DLLT-backed teams and are already being used by Dee United, a local team from Torry. Their squad features players who have grown up attending weekly Streetsport sessions in the area.

Findlay Harkins, Streetsport Development Officer, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see the kit being worn by Dee United players. They love the design, and it gives them a real sense of confidence both on and off the pitch. Most of the team have been attending Streetsport sessions in Torry for a number of years, so it has been great to deliver them a new kit and badge design to be proud of. Five of the squad are now also employed by the Trust as coaches, and we are keen to grow the club and deliver more for the local community in the years to come.鈥�

The black and silver version of the kit will be worn by the University of Aberdeen futsal team for select fixtures and by DLLT volunteer fundraisers during community events and annual fundraising dinners. This version represents unity and purpose, bridging sport and social impact.

Mark Williams, Chief Operating Officer of the Denis Law Legacy Trust, added: 鈥淭he black kit has a special significance鈥攊t鈥檚 not just a striking design, but a symbol of the shared values between our charity and the wider community. Seeing it worn by both university athletes and our volunteer fundraisers highlights the power of sport to inspire, connect, and create lasting change. We鈥檙e proud to support initiatives that bring people together and celebrate the legacy of Denis Law.鈥�

91传媒鈥檚 commitment to community engagement was recently recognised through an Engage Watermark Award from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), highlighting the university鈥檚 positive impact on local communities.

John Stewart, Manager at Macron Sports Hub Aberdeen, said: 鈥淚t was a great honour and privilege to be part of this amazing project. From speaking about the initial design concept, travelling with Rowan, Cameron and Mark out to meet our designers and staff at head office in Bologna through to delivery, it鈥檚 been a fantastic experience. The Denis Law Legacy Trust is an organisation that we are thrilled to work with and look forward to continuing the partnership far into the future.鈥�

Several students have achieved 91传媒plus accreditation through their involvement in the charity, including Innes Gregory, who earned a Gold Award for documenting the development of the 鈥楶rintfield 10 鈥� Denis Law Legacy Trail鈥�. Jacob Adair also created a promotional video showcasing the project, mentored by videographer Blair McGinigal.