The Irish Guards regiment of the British Army will enter a team in next year's London junior football championship.
On Monday, the British Army were affiliated to London GAA following a dramatic County Board meeting in Ruislip. Major Fox of the Irish Guards presented his case to the County Board and club delegates, whose vote was deadlocked on 15 apiece before London chairman Noel O'Sullivan made the casting vote in their favour.
In a landmark GAA development, the Irish Guards are now free to compete at junior level in the 2016 championship, league and cup competitions within London. Rule 21, which banned members of the British security forces from playing football and hurling within the Association, was abolished at Congress nearly 14 years ago, having being enforced for over a century.
According to The Irish Post, the Irish Guards moved from their station in Aldershot, Hampshire, to Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, west London, in June of this year and will be stationed there for the next three years.
Since this move they have been receiving support at their twice-weekly training sessions from Tir Chonaill Gaels and London GAA. They will don their club name, Gardai Eireannach, on the back of their jerseys.
#REVEALED: Here's glimpse of how Irish Guards' #GAA jersey will look pic.twitter.com/JSArdRgx0L
- Irish Post Sport (@IrishPostSport) September 15, 2015
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