UMBRO, the world’s leading football brand, has signed a new kit sponsorship deal with East Riding Football Association, as part of a £2 million nationwide investment into grassroots football.
The landmark deal will see UMBRO footballs, clothing and equipment distributed to every County FA in England and will bring benefit to the thousands of clubs and players in the region that are affiliated to the East Riding FA.
The agreement represents the biggest ever kit and equipment sponsorship for the County FA network and will see £500,000 of funding delivered to the regions each year until 2010, as part of UMBRO’s wide-reaching relationship with The Football Association.
Benefit will be passed to various County FA programmes including the Charter Standard scheme and the development of small-sided football. It will also provide essential equipment and clothing for the provision of football across The East Riding.
The sponsorship forms an integral part of UMBRO’s plan to invest in the future of English football and build on its long-standing association with The FA and the England teams.
Duncan Thomson, Head of FA Division at UMBRO, said: “UMBRO is totally committed to the future health of English football in all its guises and is uniquely positioned to deliver a sponsorship programme that will bring benefit to the thousands of amateur players currently active in the game, regardless of ability, age and gender.
“UMBRO understand the needs of grassroots football and the County FA’s and this wide-reaching sponsorship demonstrates a long term commitment to the sport in England.”
Jonathan Hill, Group Commercial Director for The FA, added: “The UMBRO sponsorship will bring valuable support to the work being done by the County FA’s to improve the standard of football in the country and will allow more to be done than ever before to promote grassroots football.”
Dennis Johnson, Chief Executive of East Riding FA, concluded: “UMBRO’s generous sponsorship will enable East Riding FA to work with more clubs, more players and encourage more people to get into football. It will provide much needed equipment and resources for East Riding FA and I have no doubt that football in the region will benefit hugely from this sponsorship deal.”
UMBRO will now become the official kit supplier to East Riding FA in addition to its central Football Association and England sponsorships.
To support the sponsorship UMBRO has also launched a brand new one-stop-shop online, where clubs and players can get their hands on balls, training equipment and playing kit all in one place. UMBRO will also take care of all your printing and embroidery requirements leaving you more time to sort out matters on the pitch. Visit www.umbrofootballkits.co.uk for more information.
For more information please contact Ed Hughes, FA Development Manager at UMBRO on 0161 492 2204 - ed_hughes@umbro.co.uk
About UMBRO
UMBRO is a globally recognised football brand with a strong heritage derived from more than 80 years' association with the sport of football. Based in the UK, where the UMBRO business was founded in 1924, the group designs, sources and markets football-related products, which are sold in over 90 countries.
UMBRO has a proud tradition of working with some of the greatest names in world football and currently has partnerships with many of the game’s top teams, including:
. England, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Brazilian Beach Soccer
· Everton, Glasgow Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Celta Vigo, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Dinamo, Malaga, Alaves, Cruz Azul, Clube Atlético Paranaense, FC Santos, Playas de Castellon (Futsal)
UMBRO also works closely with some of football’s biggest global stars and next-generation talent, including:
· Michael Owen, Deco, John Terry, Tim Cahill, David James, Alan Shearer, Michel Salgado,
· Shola Ameobi, David Dunn, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Luis Garcia
UMBRO is also dedicated to developing the grass roots of football through initiatives such as the UMBRO International Cup – a football festival held each year in Manchester attracting over 400 teams from more than 25 nations.
As football and fashion become increasingly inter-connected, UMBRO has forged strategic partnerships with some of the leading names in world fashion including Kim Jones, Philip Treacy and London’s Royal College of Art.
Website www.UMBRO.com