Sponsoring Bethan Jones

Recently I announced through my twitter feed that my new blog Supporting Women's Football would be sponsoring Cambridge WFC player Bethan Jones. Approached by the club it was an easy decision to make had coming towards the end of the WSL campaign started attending other women's football matches in the South East region had been to see Cambridge WFC a few times was impressed by the standard of football at this level of the game.
   I had sponsored a player at Lincoln Ladies during their final WSL season and from a personal stand point find it a positive and rewarding way of expressing my support. Many clubs up and down the country whatever their size or league offer sponsorship packages for individual players, they are an important way for clubs to raise much needed funds to help with the day to day running of the club and look after it's players and staff, and also gives a boost to the player involved.
    For the sponsor be it a business or individual it has several benefits too. For the individual fan or maybe even group/syndicate of fans it is rewarding to sponsor a player in terms of expressing support and adds further interest to watching the team. For a business it represents a means of added exposure and advertising within the individual clubs sponsorship package, be it through ground, program or website advertising, to what is going to be increasingly more common and a means for the women's game to lead the way somewhat through social media channels such as Twitter or Facebook.
    Cambridge WFC are blessed to have a number of partners to help with promoting the club and it was through these partners I was approached. They have a supporters club run by amberarmy.net @amberarmynet and run a twitter account dedicated to supporting the club @CWFCPressOffice and it is through them I will pick up how the sponsorship deal took place, "The Sponsorship of Bethan happened after we noticed an appeal from her family for a sponsor and after a bit of research we passed the task of gaining a sponsor to club partner and agent Chrome Sport." The A*A spokeswoman continued, "During discussions and negociations with Darren it was brought to our attention that he in fact lives in a nearby area to Bethan," she added, "this helped in negociations as there was some affinity with the player and we were delighted when Chrome were able to seal the deal." In closing she said, "there are still many players yet to be sponsored and we are on the lookout for any willing companies or individuals."
    A spokesman for Chrome Sport @ChromeSport who negociated the sponsorship added, "When we were asked by amberarmy.net who run the CW Press Office and supporters club to negociate a sponsor for Bethan we were delighted to help," he added, "from what we know Bethan travels quite far to play for Cambridge WFC and with Darren (Supporting Women's Football Blog) living in an area not too far from Bethan it works well," he went on, "we continually work with A*A and the club to find sponsor's for the team." In closing he said, "Having watched Bethan play she is deserving of the sponsorship, she is clearly talented and will no doubt go on to prove a very good player for Cambridge WFC in the future."
     The club itself had this to say regarding sponsorship through Cambridge WFC's Vice Chair and reserve regular Vicky Hoover -  For some reason, despite our best efforts we have not had any success in finding a main sponsor for the club, so we have had to try and think of other means of raising the much needed funds the club requires to survive. So the player sponsorship kicked off last season. It was the brain child of our friends at Amber Army, the initial thought was to try and obtain individual player sponsorship and the money would go direct to the players. However after much discussion with players and committee members we all agreed that any funds raised through the sponsorship scheme would go back into the club for the purchase of kit and equipment from which everyone can benefit. Last season we raised enough to purchase new training balls, water bottles, warm up tops and bibs. This season's target is to raise sufficient funds to purchase a new away kit.
     Certainly from my point of view Bethan living nearby to myself was an added extra in deciding to sponsor a player at Cambridge WFC. I can understand the travelling that has to be undertaken to train and play. The club itself has been very welcoming and have a talented group of players. It is a mutually beneficial package as I'm aiming to help promote the women's game through my blog and the club and it's partners will help in this. I am delighted to sponsor Bethan Jones.

Introducing Bethan Jones

    Of course having a blog gives me the opportunity to introduce to everyone the player I am sponsoring at Cambridge WFC, Bethan Jones. Just 17 years old the club told me that she is very much one for the future has been in the 1st team regulary this season, scored her 1st goal for the club away at Brentwood Town LFC back in November.
    Bethan's mother Vicky who takes photographs at Cambridge WFC matches was kind enough to supply me with some background information on Bethan's football career to date starting close to where I currently live near Kings Lynn in Norfolk. For Wootton girls U10 & U11's along with featuring for West Norfolk before moving to Cyprus where she played for Olympiakos in 2007/08, then AE Ammochostos from 2008 - 2012 played ladies football from age 12. Has played with and against current international players from Romania, Sweden and Cyprus. Had the job of marking Scottish international and 2012 GB star Ifeoma Dieke whilst she was on loan to Apollon Ladies.
   Has played against Russian champions Rossyanka and various touring Swedish clubs. Is also the youngest player to score in the Cypriot women's professional league when she was just 12 years old. Below are a few pictures of Bethan from her early fooball career kindly suppled by her mother Vicky.

 

 

     Returning to the United Kingdom, Bethan played for Fakenham Town Ladies in Norfolk during 2012/13 before becoming a Cambridge WFC player. Seen her mostly on the right side of midfield but can fill in at right back has a good turn of pace and looks to attack with the ball can put a tackle in too. Her ambition is to one day play for Wales and I wish her every success in that goal, can look to a fellow South East Combination league player in MK Dons LFC player Alice Hassall who played in all of England U17's games at last years Euro's for inspiration in that aim. I wish her well in her football career going forwards.
    The club were kind enough to provide a few lines regarding Bethan again via Vicky Hoover - Beth first started training with us towards the end of last season, she was still playing for Fakenham Town at the time but asked if she could come along to training and see how she got on. We always like to encourage new players and invited her to come along to training. Although she didn't sign for us last season she was back pre-season and eager to put pen to paper. Beth has established herself as a popular member of the squad, she is very likeable, sometimes quiet and reserved but quick to share a joke. She is one of the youngest members of the squad, which is great because she is a big talent now but still has so much to learn. She really is one to watch. She is a real asset to the club (as is her Mum who takes lots of lovely photos on a match day.) We hope Beth will enjoy a long and lucrative career with us here at Cambridge and we will do our best to nurture her talent.

    In conclusion the club adds - We would really love to find sponsors for more of our players and if possible a main kit sponsor. We have sponsorship packages available and anyone interested can make enquiries via the CWFC press office @CWFCPressOffice or contact the club direct.