Blackburn Reveals Charity Deal
Blackburn Rovers has revealed it will donate the sponsor space on their shirt to the Prince’s Trust instead of selling it to a commercial brand.
The Premiership club’s £5m deal with Crown Paints expired at the end of last season.
During the pre-season Barclays Asia Trophy the team wore the logo of owners Venky’s, the Indian poultry firm.
However, according to media reports, the club has decided to reject commercial sponsorship offers in order to link up with the Prince’s Trust.
Simon Williams, Rovers’ head of commercial and marketing, said: ‘The club has enjoyed a strong and productive relationship with the Prince’s Trust since 2005 and this agreement takes that relationship onto another level’.
‘The exposure the Prince’s Trust will obtain as our shirt partner will greatly increase the level of awareness for the charity and hopefully encourage fund-raising for the fantastic work they do with young people’.
Three years ago Aston Villa became the first top-flight club to give publicity to a charity on the team strip when they sported the name of a local children’s hospice.
Balaji Rao, managing director of Venky’s India Ltd, added: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be able to support the Prince’s Trust in such a visible way, particularly at this challenging time for young people in terms of unemployment and limited opportunities’.
‘Helping young people is very much at the forefront of our community work in India and this partnership is a perfect way for us to support charities and worthy causes through football over here’.
