Mastercard sign up “biggest name” in football

  

  

Mastercard may need extra ink for their latest front-of-shirt sponsorship deal after signing up a Welsh club with the longest name in football. 

 Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch FC could at first glance easily be mistaken for the world’s most headache-inducing Wi-Fi password. 

But Llanfairpwll, as they are more commonly known, are the genuine article and play in the North Wales Coast West Division One, the fifth tier of the Welsh league.

The three-year deal continues a trend for big-name investments in Welsh football following the Hollywood takeover of Wrexham in 2021, and Swansea announcing their music industry A-list co-owner Snoop Dogg last month.

The new sponsorship strengthens Mastercard’s connection with the club’s community, having originally been introduced in February. The village on the isle of Anglesey was chosen, alongside seven of Europe’s longest-named places, to become the headline acts of Mastercard’s Click to Pay technology, which looks to remove the need to enter personal details like long card numbers when shopping online.

 

The financial terms of this new deal remain undisclosed but a partnership of this magnitude for a club of such stature is virtually unheard of.

Samantha Jones-Smith, Llanfairpwll FC chairman, comments: “You only have to look down the road at Wrexham to see how football partnerships can inspire success on the pitch and a huge feel-good factor off it.

“This isn’t just another sponsorship deal for our club, it’s a collaboration that builds on the strong relationship Mastercard has forged with the Llanfairpwll community throughout the year. They’re not just putting their name on our shirts; they’re investing in our future, our facilities, and most importantly, our supporters.”

Simon Forbes, Division President, UK and Ireland, Mastercard, comments: “Football clubs are the beating heart of communities across the country, and we’re proud to announce this long-term partnership, cementing our links with Llanfairpwll. 

“This expanded collaboration reflects our commitment to backing grassroots football and local businesses and driving forward technology that helps support everyday transactions across small towns and villages as well as global cities.”

 

IWF