Northern Ireland

Soccer fans queue for opening of Leeds Utd store in Belfast

Maurice McCrory was the first customer to emerge from the Leeds official club merchandise store in Belfast, Castle Lane with some items. Picture by Mal McCann.
Maurice McCrory was the first customer to emerge from the Leeds official club merchandise store in Belfast, Castle Lane with some items. Picture by Mal McCann. Maurice McCrory was the first customer to emerge from the Leeds official club merchandise store in Belfast, Castle Lane with some items. Picture by Mal McCann.

Leeds United football fans had a ball in Belfast city centre with the opening of a new store dedicated to the Premier League team.

The shop offers 550 square feet of retail space selling everything from kits to coffee mugs, and opened to queues of eager fans yesterday afternoon.

The outlet on Castle Lane is the latest city centre store dedicated to a top-flight soccer club in Belfast, joining Celtic, Rangers, Liverpool and Manchester United shops, while next door to the Leeds outlet is a new Everton F.C shop that also opened its doors in recent days.

Leeds store manager Alan Brown said there is a huge fanbase for the club in Belfast and across the north, with strong support from both sides of the community.

"We opened at 1pm and for the hour beforehand we had a long queue of people waiting to get in," he told the Irish News, adding that his very first customer was his father-in-law and lifelong Leeds fan Maurice McCrory.

Leeds first official club merchandise store opens in Belfast, Castle Lane. Picture by Mal McCann.
Leeds first official club merchandise store opens in Belfast, Castle Lane. Picture by Mal McCann. Leeds first official club merchandise store opens in Belfast, Castle Lane. Picture by Mal McCann.

"There has always been an appetite for a Leeds shop in Belfast, with the club having such a great fanbase here, from all backgrounds. We had people in from across the city and from as far as Derry and Dublin today. It's fantastic to see such a buzz in the store and especially after a year and a half in which retail has suffered."

He added: "Leeds is a one city club, so the fanbase is loyal and it's great to see so many of them here for the store's opening. It's been an amazing atmosphere so far."

Cookstown-born Leeds player Stuart Dallas posted an image of fans queueing at the Belfast store yesterday, writing: "Was desperate to be there to open it up," adding: "I’ll get there in the next few weeks though. Thanks for the support as always."

Paul Bell, Executive Director at Leeds United, said: "The retail outlet is located in a fantastic position in the heart of Belfast, and it will be great to see our fans over in Northern Ireland visiting the store."