Glory and granite inspire RGU students to design commemorative football kit
Wednesday 22 October 2025
The kit was created by Rowan McDonagh, a Communication Design student who collaborated with Macron throughout the design and development process. It features Aberdeen’s famous granite texture taken from the plinth of The King’s statue recently unveiled in the city centre. Gold seams run through the granite, symbolising Denis Law’s 1964 Ballon d’Or win and the crown worn by the ‘King of the Stretford End’—a title given to Denis by Manchester United fans.
Rowan said: “I 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’s) 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 RGU.”
The kit’s lettering and Denis’ 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’s location opposite Marischal College.
Iain Morrison, Stage Coordinator for Communication Design, said: “The 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’s design team in Bologna. It was apparent that he also enjoyed the pizza throughout his stay.”
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: “It’s 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.”
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: “The black kit has a special significance—it’s 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’re proud to support initiatives that bring people together and celebrate the legacy of Denis Law.”
RGU’s commitment to community engagement was recently recognised through an Engage Watermark Award from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), highlighting the university’s positive impact on local communities.
John Stewart, Manager at Macron Sports Hub Aberdeen, said: “It 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’s 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.”
Several students have achieved RGUplus accreditation through their involvement in the charity, including Innes Gregory, who earned a Gold Award for documenting the development of the ‘Printfield 10 – Denis Law Legacy Trail’. Jacob Adair also created a promotional video showcasing the project, mentored by videographer Blair McGinigal.
Image credit: Copyright © 2025 Emily Forrest / Ailidh Jamieson. All rights reserved.