The FA Announces Partnership With Cognizant
The FA has announced an agreement with Cognizant, a professional services company, to become the digital transformation partner of football’s governing body, supporting its new digital engagement programme.
As part of the deal, Cognizant will become the official digital transformation partner of The Emirates FA Cup and of Club Wembley. They will also become The FA’s official digital partner.
The partnership is central to The FA’s strategy to embrace the changing digital landscape, helping players, fans and enablers to get the most from their football experiences and, in so doing, creating more meaningful relationships with the governing body and County Football Associations.
The new relationship coincides with the relaunch, via a new mobile version, of the ‘Full-Time’ digital service for grassroots football. The advances in the application enabled by Cognizant aim to make it easier for grassroots players, as well as their families and volunteers, to find and ‘favourite’ their local team via their handheld device.
The digital engagement programme has also launched The FA’s ‘For Girls’ digital platform. Created with Cognizant prior to this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO, the mobile-first site is home to the latest news, content and information for female football fans and players of all ages, as well as support The FA in its aim to double participation across the women’s game.
Russell James, The FA’s director of digital engagement said: “This is the beginning of a long-term approach, which will be a game changer for all involved in the game from players, volunteers and fans of both men’s and women’s football. We will make the football experience easier, more enjoyable for all. By modernising our approach to match how people use mobile devices as part of their everyday life, we will provide meaningful benefits to the game, our partners and the role that The FA and County Football Associations have with the people we are here to serve and inspire.”
Clifford Burroughs, The FA’s chief technology and procurement officer commented: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Cognizant on our new digital engagement programme. We needed a partner who is a leader in the digital space and can support The FA on this challenging journey. The work establishing ‘For Girls’ and now creating ‘Full-Time’ demonstrate our intention to work together to transform how we engage with everyone involved in football at any level.”
Santosh Thomas, president, global growth markets, Cognizant, added: “We are pleased to be The Football Association’s exclusive digital transformation partner, helping encourage people from all walks of life to take part in the sport. Digital is about being able to access the content you want, when you want it, on the device of choice, all converging to provide an engaging experience. Digital technologies are now central to everything The FA does and, as the digital transformation partner, Cognizant will support The FA as it innovates and transforms, evolves its brands to foster fan loyalty, and drives growth of the sport.”
