Johnstone’s Paint Renews Trophy Deal

Johnstone’s Paint has renewed its sponsorship of The Johnstone’s Paint
Trophy for a further three seasons, extending the paint brand’s
association with The Football League to nine years – the longest
sponsorship in the competition’s 29-year history.? ?

The
announcement was made at Wembley Stadium, with the release of thousands
of multi-coloured balloons to symbolise Johnstone’s commitment to
‘bringing colour to the beautiful game’ through until 2014/15.? ?

Football
League chairman Greg Clarke said: ‘I am delighted that we have extended
our successful sponsorship with Johnstone’s Paint.’? ?

‘They
have worked extremely hard to help us raise this competition’s public
profile and popularity with supporters.  I look forward to further
strengthening our relationship during this next stage of our
partnership.’??

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has undergone some
changes during the first six seasons of the sponsorship designed to
raise the appeal of the competition.  

Changes included the
scrapping of extra-time, increased regionalisation in early rounds and a
renewed commitment from clubs to fielding first-team sides in matches.?

?For clubs in Leagues 1 and 2, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
continues to offer the opportunity of a dream final at Wembley Stadium.?

?Johnstone’s Paint marketing director, Jason Metcalf, added:
‘More than five million fans have watched Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
matches, in grounds and on television, since the sponsorship began and
Johnstone’s Paint has also engaged with up to two million people through
numerous community projects.’?

?’So with this in mind, it is
clear to see why we are all so thrilled to be extending our sponsorship.
It has been one of our biggest success stories and we couldn’t be
happier to be reinforcing our relationship with the clubs and their
legions of fans.’??

Successful community projects include a
search to honour selfless non-league managers in 2010, along with a
competition for young bloggers to write about their teams’ trophy
exploits last season.? ?

A shirt amnesty for World Emergency
Relief in 2009 – where communities in South Africa were given hundreds
of football shirts to train and play in – was also a success.? ?

Johnstone’s
Paint also present a number of long standing awards, including the
regular Ultimate Finish and Team of the Round trophies which are
presented after each round of the competition.? ?

The extension of the Johnstone’s Paint contract coincides with the brand’s 125th anniversary in 2015.