Shorts: Leicester Riders, Scottish Athletics, UKActive

Leicester Riders have announced a partnership with UK-based brand Blindside Trading Cards to launch a bespoke collection of trading cards.

The limited-edition set will feature the current 2023/24 season roster alongside a selection of former club legends. Each card will include exclusive artwork, player statistics, and career highlights, with the collection scheduled to be released later in the season.

As part of the agreement, Blindside Trading Cards has also become the personal sponsor of Riders player Flynn Boardman-Raffet. The card packs will be sold at a pop-up store at selected home games.

Ashley Fontaine, Head of Marketing, Leicester Riders, said, “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Blindside Trading Cards on this exciting project. Trading cards are a fantastic way to engage with our supporters, giving them something truly unique to collect and treasure. This collaboration allows us to celebrate our current stars while also paying tribute to the incredible legends who have shaped our club’s history.”

Scottish Athletics have agreed a new four-year sponsorship extension and expansion with law firm Lindsays.

The new agreement will see Lindsays continue its title sponsorship of the Lindsays Cross Country Season through to the 2028-29 season.

The partnership has also been expanded to cover road racing, with the creation of the new Lindsays Road Race Series. This will encompass championships across five distances, as well as the Lindsays Young Athletes Road Races and Lindsays National Road Relays. The road race element of the sponsorship will run for the calendar years 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Colin Hutchison, Chief Executive of Scottishathletics, said, “I am absolutely delighted to confirm this superb sponsorship support from Lindsays. It has now been a long-standing agreement for cross country and I think everyone will have noticed the growth in profile of our big events there.

“I think it makes perfect sense because the audience – of athletes, clubs, coaches and volunteers – is very similar. Last year, we delivered an outcome of 3.1 million views of content from the Lindsays Cross Country Season. This strongly backed up our own anecdotal feelings about comms impact and indeed that 3.1 million figure was only across our own channels.”

Physical activity trade body ukactive has announced the appointment of David Stalker as its new Chair, while Melinda Nicci has joined the Board of Directors as its new Digital Lead.

Stalker, who previously served as CEO of the organisation from 2008 to 2016, brings over 35 years of industry experience to the role. His career also includes positions as Chair of CIMSPA, CEO of Myzone, and President of EuropeActive.

He joins on a three-year term, taking over from Katy Cox, who served as Interim Chair following Mike Farrar’s departure in February. Cox will now resume her position as Treasurer of the Board.

Nicci has been appointed as a co-opted Board member and will act as Digital Lead, bringing specialist knowledge of health technology and AI. She is the founder of the Body Collective Group (Baby2Body) and has previously worked with brands including Virgin Active and LA Fitness.

David Stalker, Chair of ukactive, said, “It is an honour to be appointed Chair of ukactive. Having previously served as CEO of ukactive, it has been hugely rewarding to witness both the growth of the organisation and the sector we serve, and I am looking forward to playing my part in continuing this growth.

“Throughout my career I have championed the recognition of physical activity as a cornerstone of health and wellbeing, and I will continue to advocate for its role in improving the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our communities. ukactive’s members are the engine room of physical activity in the UK and I look forward to supporting the Board, the Executive and the team to help drive our collective mission and reach more people.”

Crystal Palace’s official charity, the Palace for Life Foundation, has named Brooks Running as the official sponsor of its 2025 Marathon March.

The annual fundraising event sees Palace fans, club legends, and partners walk a marathon distance to raise money for the foundation’s community projects across South London. Since its inception in 2016, the Marathon March has raised over £500,000 for a range of initiatives, including free physical activities, one-to-one mentoring, and employment support for young people.

As part of the agreement, the US-founded, global running brand will support the ninth edition of the event, which aims to build on the £90,000 raised by 220 participants in the previous edition.

Carl Newman, Territory Director Northern Europe for Brooks Running, said, “We’re really pleased to partner with the Palace for Life Foundation and sponsor the Marathon March for 2025. We believe movement is the key to feeling more alive so teaming up Palace for Life here aligns beautifully to our brand purpose. We all move toward something, whether that is a finish line, a feeling or for headspace – Let’s Run There!!”

Bobby Webbe, Fundraising Manager at Palace for Life, said, “We’re so excited to welcome Brooks Running as the headline sponsor for this year’s Marathon March! Their generous support of our flagship fundraising event will make a crucial impact, helping us create opportunities for young people in our community and inspiring them to lead healthy, active lives.”

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