Shorts: Pfa, BBC Sport, Goodwood

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the Premier League have launched a new brain health fund.

The PFA will make an initial £1m available to assist former players and their families who have been impacted by dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.

The news comes after a group of 30 former footballers and their families launched legal action against football’s governing bodies in November, claiming they had failed to protect them from brain injuries. This included the relatives of of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles.

PFA Chief Executive Maheta Molango, commented, “This is an important step forward. We continue to believe there needs to be a football-wide responsibility.

“That includes providing access to financial support for former players and the families who most need it.”

The PFA and Premier League, alongside other football stakeholders, has also revealed that they are planning to establish a charity.

BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater, has announced her retirement after 14 years in the role.

Slater, who has worked at the BBC for 40 years after switching from a career as an Olympic gymnast, will step down in the spring of 2024.

Salter commented, “It has been an absolute passion, never just a job.

“It was this week 40 years ago that I first walked through the doors at Broadcasting House.

“Since joining in 1983 I’ve been privileged to have had such amazing opportunities and the delight of working with such talented colleagues and partners.”

Influence Sports & Media – part global sports and entertainment collective, Mongoose Group – has officially launched its US offering.

With an immediate focus on Formula 1, the UK agency’s new New York office will offer strategic consultancy, commercial sales, partnership activation and PR and communications.

The strategic move comes in advance of a high-profile international sporting calendar scheduled to take place in the US in the years ahead. These include five Formula 1 Grands Prix, the 2024 Copa América, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The newly formed venture will be headquartered in New York and led by Dirk De Vos as Managing Director – North America.

Alistair Watkins, Founder & CEO of Influence Sports & Media, said, “Since the inception of the Agency it was always our intention to open an office in the US and now nine months after becoming part of Mongoose and The Mission Group this is a reality. It’s a significant development and perfect timing with the rapid growth of Formula 1 in the US. Given Dirk’s great track record of working for major corporations and his knowledge of the North American market, he’s the perfect person to launch this expansion of the agency.”

Goodwood has partnered with international mobility service provider SIXT as the official mobility partner of the Goodwood Revival.

SIXT will provide Goodwood Revival, which this year runs from 8^th to 10^th September, with a fleet of cars to help with the running of the event. Vehicles will include a wide range of multi-seaters and vans, 4x4s and premium cars providing a full mobility offering.

Jonathan Gregory, Commercial Director for Goodwood, said, “We are delighted to welcome SIXT onboard as a Goodwood Revival partner this year. Their impressive fleet of vehicles will play an important operational role in the successful running of Revival over the three days.”

Andrew Smith, Managing Director of SIXT UK, added, “As an official partner, we are proud to be supporting this iconic landmark occasion in the British events calendar. We share Goodwood’s passion for remarkable cars and are looking forward to providing a wide range of the latest fleet available.”

EFL Championship football club Leeds United FC has announced a new partnership with Leeds Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm for the 2023/24 season.

As the Whites’ official charity partner for the 2023/24 campaign, the club and local charity will work together on ‘a range of initiatives and activities to help promote and raise awareness around the incredible work being done to give children throughout Leeds unforgettable memories and valuable learning experiences.’

Angus Kinnear, CEO at Leeds United FC, said, “We are really pleased to announce this new charity partnership and we look forward to working with everyone at Leeds Children’s Charity throughout the season.

“It is always really important to us as a club to show our support for local charities, and the work being done by Leeds Children’s Charity in working with some of the most disadvantaged children in our community is really special. Hopefully we can help to provide even more opportunities and experiences for these children and raise awareness around the truly fantastic work they are doing, along with their plans for the future to help even more children.”

Bath Rugby has unveiled Watches of Bath as its new official watch retailer.  

The luxury time-piece retailer will feature prominently on the shorts of Bath Rugby’s playing kit.

Head of Business Development, Tom Giles, said, “The club is very pleased to be able to announce this partnership with Watches of Bath.

“The company is a premium retailer which has a strong affinity to the City of Bath and we’re proud to have it featured on the shorts of the Bath Rugby playing kit.”