E.ON to power The FA Cup

The Football Association is delighted to announce that E.ON, the UK’s largest energy services company, is to become the Lead Partner of The FA Cup from the start of the 2006/07 competition, reports www.thefa.com

The Football Association and E.ON have signed a four–year agreement. The competition will be known as ‘The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON’ from August 2006.

In addition, E.ON will become sponsor of The FA Women’s Cup and The FA Youth Cup competitions and will be The FA’s Schools Football Development Partner.

Brian Barwick, The FA’s Chief Executive, said: “The FA Cup is the world’s greatest domestic cup competition and we are delighted to have a company of E.ON’s stature as its Lead Partner.

“The FA Cup continues to capture the imagination of football supporters in England and around the globe with its unique blend of giantkillings and classic encounters between the country’s top teams. This deal will provide us with an opportunity to build on this reputation.

“The FA currently invests around £70 million a year into football right down to the grassroots. Income from our new sponsorship programme will further contribute to the promotion and development of the game at all levels.

“The FA Cup itself provides a huge financial boost for participating clubs through the prize fund and payments for television and radio appearances that come from The FA and this will increase next season.

“Already this season, we’ve seen some fantastic FA Cup moments and clubs such as Burton Albion and Colchester United are expected to make around £1 million each from their Cup runs.

"This comes from these FA payments combined with gate receipts which provide both home and away clubs with at least 40% of the proceeds from FA Cup ties.”

Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce our sponsorship of The FA Cup today.

“This will give us the opportunity to expand our investments in the UK outside our core business of power and gas and to become integrally involved with football at all levels throughout England.

“I’m sure that many of our customers will be able to benefit from the money we’ll be pumping into the sport and into school-based schemes across the country.

“And I can assure them that operating as a good and responsible neighbour wherever E.ON works is at the heart of our business and we believe our sponsorship of The FA Cup, and its community benefits, is yet another example of how we are achieving that every day across the UK.”

E.ON, as Lead Partner, will become closely aligned with The FA Cup in a variety of ways including use of the Cup itself and increased visibility at The FA Cup Final and Semi Finals.

As The FA's Schools Development Partner, E.ON will also be supporting The FA's work with schools across England. This work focuses on raising standards, out of school hours activities, community links, young leadership and inclusion.

The FA's Director of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking, commented: "The first introduction to organised football for most young people is at school.

It is The FA's role to work with schools to ensure they provide a quality learning environment for football. We are looking forward to working with E.ON to further develop this area."