SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Irish igaming operator Paddy Power have signed its first ever football sponsorship deal with Farnborough FC. Following the recent summer trend of sports betting and gaming operators sponsoring English Premiership football clubs, Paddy Power has bucked the trend by agreeing to sponsor ‘Skrill South Conference’ football team – Farnborough FC.
By agreeing to sponsor the Hampshire based football team, Paddy Power have saved the Conference Side from going into administration. Paddy Power has taken over as Farnborough’s main sponsor and the Paddy Power brand will be visible on the clubs football shirts and throughout Farnborough FC’s Rushmoor Stadium (capacity – 4,200 – 625 seated) which will be renamed to Paddy Power Park.
As part of the sponsorship deal the players of the Skrill Conference South side have changed their names by deed poll to those of the greatest footballers to have graced a football pitch. From Gordon Banks in goal to Zinedine Zidane, Pele, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona in the outfield.
Manager Spencer Day has also had to change his name to Jose Mourinho, commenting “Over the summer it looked touch and go whether we’d even start the season, but now we’ve got by far the greatest team the world has ever seen. Although it’s not all good news, Pelé and Maradona have almost come to blows over who gets to wear the number 10″.
Paddy Power customers will be able to follow the teams progress as they try to gain promotion to the Skrill Football Conference. Farnborough FC will be reported on the Paddy Power blog and new website – with regular updates and team news. Below is a short promotional video on the Paddy Power sponsorship of Farnborough FC
