Croydon FC are playing with a new sponsor’s logo emblazoned across their shirts this season, after partnering with social media company Sportswik.
Croydon FC has got a new shirt sponsor this season, with an app for its fans to use
The deal sees “The Trams” become Sportswik’s non-league ambassador club. The partnership follows a successful trial of the Sportswik app last season and coincides with the British launch of the innovative sports social media platform.
Sportswik has invested more than £4million in developing the free-to-download app which, in just three years, has been adopted by 45 per cent of grassroots football teams across Sweden. Next season it will be introduced across youth leagues, disability football and the non-league game in this country – with the London FA also adopting it across its cup competitions.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Croydon FC – and help the club re-establish itself and build a new generation of fans through the app,” Martin Wiklund, Sportswik’s CEO, said.
“When it comes to sports social media Twitter and Facebook can’t rival Sportwik’s functionality – which is why it has proved so popular in Scandinavia. We have spent the summer adapting the app to the needs of grassroots football in Britain and can’t wait to get started.”
The deal is the latest in a number of significant changes at Croydon FC.
Tony Snow, a former senior communications manager at the FA and now head of Sportswik’s UK Operations, has joined the club in a media advisory role, while in June it was announced that respected local charity, Kinetic Foundation, has agreed to partner with the club.
Kinetic will continue to run the youth section for under-16s, giving players the opportunity to progress to the newly formed Croydon FC Academy teams which play in the Isthmian Youth and Southern Youth Leagues. The brightest talents are hoped will graduate to the first team squad to play in the Southern Counties East League.
“Swapping Wembley for the Croydon Arena has certainly eased my commute,” said Snow, who lives in South Norwood.
“At the FA my job was to promote the development of grassroots football – and now I get the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and do it for real.”
The deal is non-financial and Sportswik will “keep the shirt warm” while Croydon FC re-establishes itself, says club chairman Martin Burr.
“This gives us a platform to professionalise what we do and show potential backers that we are open for business as a progressive and innovative club,” Burr said.
“We are supremely confident that with Kinetic and Sportswik now on board, we have laid the foundations to build – both on and off the pitch.”
The Croydon FC feed will feature match commentaries, live goal action, video and picture highlights – plus interviews.
To follow Croydon FC on Sportswik, users should go to this link via their mobile device or computer.
To register an account, download the app at Google Play or Apple Store.
For further information please view intro film at https://tinyurl.com/ycktp7bn or contact Tony Snow on 07811 824646/ tony@sportswik.com or follow @SportswikUK on Twitter.
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