Two Football Clubs Join Paddy Power’s ‘Save Our Shirt’ Campaign
Two football clubs have joined Paddy Power’s Save Our Shirt campaign.
The Irish bookmaker launched its campaign last week, calling betting operators to stop football shirt sponsorships. As part of the campaign, Paddy Power announced it was sponsoring English Championship club Huddersfield Town and revealed the club’s new football kit featuring the firm’s logo.
The reveal was hit with criticism targeted at the size of Paddy Power’s logo on the shirt. Days later, Paddy Power announced that the shirt reveal was a publicity stunt to help the firm launch its campaign, urging betting operators to join it and bring an end to sponsorships.
Now, football clubs Newport County and Motherwell have been confirmed as partners of Paddy Power’s campaign. And more football clubs are thought to have joined but yet to be announced.
A Paddy Power spokesperson said in a statement: “Newport County are the latest team to join our Save Our Shirt movement, which sees their shirt go sponsor-free for the upcoming season. We’re sure the fans are excited to shed their sponsor as they head into League Two following their play-offs heroics.”
Newport County’s Operational Chairman Gavin Foxall added: “This is a significant deal for the club, not just from a financial perspective but also being part of the high-profile Save Our Shirt campaign. As a supporter-owned club, we felt the fit was right, as it’s all about giving the shirt back to our loyal supporters.”
Motherwell Chairman Jim McMahon said: “We’re delighted to be associated with Paddy Power’s Save Our Shirt campaign.
“This partnership represents our biggest shirt sponsorship in history, and the chance to team up with a renowned brand. It’s a fantastic achievement by our commercial team to get them on board.
He continued: “Paddy Power are forward-thinking and innovative, and it is a mark of how our fan-owned club is perceived in the world that we are able to attract such a high-calibre partner. We thank them for their support and look forward to working with them over the course of the season.”
The Save Our Shirts Campaign
Paddy Power’s Save Our Shirts campaign was announced last week. The bookmaker has reportedly partnered with Octagon and VCCP Blue for it and the firms have shared plans to promote it across television, social, print and digital media.
Clubs who join the campaign will be sponsored by the Irish bookmaker but will not wear football kits displaying Paddy Power branding, as the firm has relinquished the space on the shirt they otherwise own as the club’s main sponsor.
All football clubs participating in the campaign are expected to begin wearing their new unbranded football kits during upcoming pre-season games.