Back in the ‘90s, The Boltmakers Arms in Keighley wasn’t just pulling perfect pints of Timothy Taylor’s - it was the beating heart of a pub football team with a story that’s pure Britpop gold.
One of the players, Roger Nowell, was working as a roadie for Oasis. In true Keighley fashion, Roger chanced his arm and cheekily asked Liam and Noel Gallagher if the band fancied sponsoring the Boltmakers side. He might have been expecting a Maybe – but the Gallaghers said Definitely Yes.
Roger Nowell standing outside The Boltmakers Arms in Keighley holding one of the original pub team kits.
Roll With It: Oasis Become Shirt Sponsors
Before long, the Boltmakers lads were stepping out in official Adidas kit emblazoned with the Oasis logo. Even better, some of the shirts were personalised for the band members themselves.
The original kit was a maroon colour - but Liam and Noel weren’t exactly Rock ’n’ Roll Stars about that choice. Being die-hard Manchester City fans, they insisted on a sky blue version, and an example of the sky blue shirt is still proudly displayed today on the walls inside The Boltmakers Arms, alongside the pints and pub banter.
From Keighley Cougars to Morning Glory
Roger wasn’t the only local tied up in Oasis’s rise. He and his mate Jason Rhodes, another Keighlian, were even name-checked on the sleeve notes of the band’s era-defining album What’s the Story Morning Glory. The Gallaghers credited the pair as the “Keighley Cougars”, cementing Keighley’s place in Britpop folklore forever.
Don’t Look Back in Anger…Bid Instead
Fast forward to 2025, and those very shirts are now set to go under the hammer at Hartleys Auctions in Ilkley on 3rd September 2025. The collection includes:
- Liam and Noel Gallagher’s shirts
- Other band members’ shirts
- Original non-Adidas team kit – classic 90s shell suits and training gear, all named up for Oasis and the Boltmakers Arms, sold in bundles for whatever the market decides.
It’s a rare chance to own Oasis memorabilia that’s got more grassroots charm than a night out in The Boltmakers Arms itself.
Live Forever at the Boltmakers
Whether you’re a fan of Timothy Taylor’s ale, Oasis, or just a cracking pub yarn, this tale has it all: football, music, Keighley pride, and a healthy dash of pub mischief.
So if you fancy your chance of owning a shirt that links the Gallaghers, the Boltmakers Arms, and Keighley, don’t Stand By Me - get yourself to the auction and make your bid.
View the full Oasis x Boltmakers Arms collection at Hartleys Auctions
Could it be? Noel and Liam popping to The Boltmakers Arms for a pint of Boltmaker...
