Sportsbet.io, the main club partner of Southampton FC, has donated its shirt sponsorship of the Premier League club to the Saints Foundation for this weekend’s top tier clash against Burnley FC.
On Easter Sunday, when the Saints take on the Clarets at the St Mary’s stadium, the Saints Foundation’s logo will be visible across the first team’s shirts, with match worn shirts to be auctioned off after the game to raise money to support the Foundation’s local community initiatives.
Further to its sponsorship gesture, the online gambling brand has agreed to match the first 1,000 donations made by fans ahead of the charity matchday up to a total of £10,000 to raise awareness and vital funds for the Foundation.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sportsbet.io for this unique opportunity that they are providing to Saints Foundation,” announced David Thomas, Southampton’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Their generosity will help raise both awareness and vital funds so that our charity can continue to support the local community through these difficult times.
“No doubt the thousands of participants who Saints Foundation support annually will be immensely proud to see the team take to the pitch displaying the charity’s logo on Sunday 4 April.”
Amid a turbulent year for the Saints Foundation, which is said to have forfeited £300,000 of expected fundraising income due to the pandemic, the charity will share stories from participants who have been helped through the Foundation across club channels leading up to the match.
Supporters can also back the organisation by purchasing a limited-edition replica shirt featuring the Saints Foundation’s logo, with all proceeds from each sale going directly to the organisation.
Joe McCallum, Head of Sportsbet.io, added: “Supporting local communities in these difficult times is important and it is our absolute pleasure as partners of the Saints to help raise awareness for the club’s charity. The work Saints Foundation has been carrying out over the past year is invaluable and we’re here to support them every step of the way.”
In August last year, Southampton named Sportsbet.io as the top flight club’s new front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2020/21 campaign.
Building on the initial agreement, the two parties have collaborated on a number of initiatives, including teaming up for Safer Gambling Week 2020, launching the ‘Listen to the Saint in you’ campaign to tackle the nationwide issue.
