It was a celebration fifty years in the making. West Ham United and legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden have come together to launch a special edition football shirt marking two golden anniversaries: the Hammers’ 1975 FA Cup victory and the formation of Steve Harris’ world-conquering band.

The new Claret and Blue shirt is part of the “Die With Your Boots On” range, a collaboration that has long united football and metal fans alike. This latest release follows Iron Maiden’s unforgettable sold-out concert at London Stadium earlier this year, where 65,000 fans witnessed the bond between club and band come to life.

For Steve Harris, Iron Maiden’s founder, bassist, and lifelong West Ham supporter, the connection runs deep. A former youth player for the club, Harris took the stage that night wearing the new shirt alongside the band’s mascot, Eddie, to the roar of the East London crowd.

The shirt itself is a tribute to both history and heritage. Modelled by West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen and other current stars, it features the iconic 1975 FA Cup Final badge, classic Claret and Blue piping, and the unmistakable Iron Maiden logo emblazoned across the front. On the right breast sits “IMFC,” while the back carries Harris’s famous number 11 and a collaborative Hammer and Bass guitar logo with “Est. 1975” underneath. Made from hexagon polyester, the shirt captures the spirit of two East End institutions built on passion and pride.

That shared spirit was on full display earlier this year when Iron Maiden’s team faced a West Ham United staff XI at The Foundry, the club’s community hub that serves over 60,000 people annually. For Harris, those ties go back decades, to memories of the 1975 Cup Final that remain vivid even though he wasn’t in the stands that day.

“I wasn’t at the game but what great memories,” Harris recalled. “Two goals from Alan Taylor and we won it. Frank Lampard and Pat Holland were in the team and they used to coach me as a junior as well. Come On You Irons!”

That same pride shone through when Harris returned to the London Stadium stage in June, wearing the new shirt for the encore. “The day really was something special,” he said. “We’d been wearing that shirt in our football matches across Europe, including at The Foundry, so it just felt right. There were so many of our older football shirts in the crowd — I hope fans grab this one too to remind them of that day.”

The surprise of the night came when Eddie appeared in the same shirt. “I didn’t know about that,” Harris laughed. “But I should have guessed. It was amazing how they replaced the West Ham team gear in the dressing room, how they did the match day programme, and how the after party in the Great Briton Suite was decked out in IMFC stuff. It was a day I’ll always remember.”

The double anniversary shirt is available now through West Ham United’s club stores and online, as well as Iron Maiden’s official shop. It stands as more than just a collectible — it’s a celebration of shared history, loyalty, and the unbreakable East End spirit that unites football and metal fans around the world.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.