By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

WHEN Fermanagh take to the field at Brewster Park on Sunday, they will be the latest team to join the "Tight Jersey Brigade" with a new figure-hugging shirt.

It was confirmed to Gaelic Life this week that the Erne men will join the likes of Armagh, Cavan and their opponents Monaghan with the tight-fitting shirts.

Armagh and Donegal were amongst the first to tighten in their shirts for their 2003 campaign, with the Orchard men leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to gain every possible advantage over their opponents.

As well as giving a more imposing appearance for those wearing the shirts, the jersies also serve a practical purpose as any pull or tug on the shirt by an opponent is accentuated, therefore reducing the opportunity for fouling by shirt-pulling, which should in turn see the rewarding of more frees. They also reduce drag when running at speed, which should, in turn, allow players to move quicker.

England's Rugby World Cup winning manager Clive Woodward revealed in his autobiography that the England team decided to wear ultra-tight jersies in the tournament because they believed they were the physically biggest team in the competition, and they wanted the shirts to make them as physically imposing as possible.

Fermanagh's shirts for this weekend will be similar to those worn by Tyrone side Dromore during their Ulster Club campaign last season, as Belfast-based manufacturers Gaelic Gear are kit suppliers to both sides.

Fermanagh county treasurer Vincie Martin told Gaelic Life, "Fermanagh will be wearing a new set of jersies for their match on Sunday. They are the same design as last season, they look exactly the same, but they're tight-fitting.

"That would have been a decision taken by the management and players. That would have been their call about the jersies."

The new shirts will also carry an emblem on the back, the meaning of which is a closely-guarded secret among the players and management team. It is believed that the symbol is in the shape of a 'T,' with a series of dots, and its appearance on the shirt is sure to spark much speculation as to its meaning among Fermanagh supporters.