New sponsorship deal kicks off festive season

Date published: 22/12/2009

A police watchdog has kicked off the festive season with a partnership deal with Manchester Football Association.

Greater Manchester Police Authority is now a sponsor of Manchester FA after agreeing a 12-month deal earlier in the year.

The sponsorship runs from January–December 2010 and will provide both organisations with an opportunity to build and strengthen relations in Greater Manchester communities.

GMPA chairman Councillor Paul Murphy explained: “A key legal duty for police authorities is to set priorities for their police force after consulting local people.

“Manchester FA has a strong network of people of all ages, from all walks of life, from across Greater Manchester and this deal provides us with an opportunity to engage with those people.

“This will be a great help as we meet our consultation duties and continue with our work to improve understanding and awareness of GMPA.”

Next year the sponsorship deal will be evident at many Manchester FA events, where GMPA will have a presence and in Manchester FA publications, which will feature police authority-related articles.

In addition, both organisations will strive to promote their brands and work as they go about their day-to-day business.

The sponsorship deal is worth £5,000 and is being used by Manchester FA to target particular hard-to-reach communities and develop young leadership opportunities.

Colin Bridgford, Manchester FA Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted GMPA has invested in the FA. It’s a unique opportunity for both agencies, one of which we hope will last for seasons to come.

“This is an exciting partnership for us. It clearly demonstrates our philosophy to engage with key partners that will impact on local communities. We are keen to add to our portfolio of key partners and sponsors and we hope GMPA will be the first of many.”