NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC have a new playing kit in memory of late club chairman Phil Johnson, who died last August.

The new tops have on the back the initials ‘OJ’, which Johnson was commonly known as at the club, while all the sponsors on the kit have a link to him.

Highwayman Café is the main, and a long-time, sponsor on the kit. Tony and Karen Hajba, from the cafe, were ‘breakfast buddies’ with Johnson.

Other sponsors include: DT Wellard Station Garage, Dan Wellard being a former team captain; Body Fix Boot Camp, which is run by Mark Tipping, for whom Johnson was best man; Anytime Time Travel, from Steve Harris, who played with Johnson and is the club’s transport provider; Simon Baynes Fruit & Veg, Baynes having coached the All Blacks; and Yorlab, courtesy of Alex Davis, who coached the All Blacks ‘A’ team in their first season leading them to promotion and the Pennine League Supplementary Cup in 2007.

Sponsors received replica shirts with ‘OJ’ written where the shirt number would normally go.

All Blacks’ current chairman, Paul Pallister, said: “I would like to thank all the sponsors for their support in sponsoring the memorial kit in memory of OJ. Future kits will carry a memorial tribute to him.”