Thinkprint south-east sales director Chris Lynn said: I had a brainstorming session with a buyer from Tesco, who wanted a promotion to run alongside World Cup Fifa T-shirts. Footballs seemed conducive and they liked the idea.

The 30-employee Cheshire firm has delivered the 15,000 footballs, which were produced in Karachi, to Tesco stores across Ireland.

The footballs feature a picture of mercurial Ireland midfielder Roy Keane. Thinkprint managing director Ian Thomson said the 40,000 contract represented a significant export order for the Cheshire company.