FIFA World cup sponsorship 1966 versus 2010

My neighbour Keith Telfer was a match day steward at Wembley Stadium for a number of games during the 1966 World Cup finals and had been promising for some time to share his memorabilia including his programmes stewards passes and badges. We spent a very enjoyable hour reading his superbly well preserved programmes from the tournament and listening to stories of other big games at which he volunteered and ushered people to their seats.
Aside from discovering that England full back Ray Wilson was actually named Ramon, and that stewards had to be on site 4 hours before kick- off, the biggest discovery was the English FA’s Acknowledgements page- the mid sixties version of sponsor accreditation- in which they thanked the tournament Sponsors which for the sake of accuracy I copy here:


The Football Association World Cup Organisation wishes to acknowledge assistance it has received from many firms and organisations. The promotional success of the eighth Jules Rimet Cup competition has been aided by valuable contributions of services and facilities from many sources including:

The Royal Garden Palace Hotel, for making available the location for the FIFA Secretariat

The Imperial Typewriter Company, Limited for the provision of 750 typewriters for use in Press Centres and Press Working Rooms in all the staging towns and cities

Roneo Limited for the loan of duplicators

Umbro International Sportswear, for supplying the shirts, shorts and hose, and Adidas the football boots, worn by the 320 boys representing the 16 participating countries during the opening ceremony, each boy will retain his equipment as a momento of the occasion

Bridport-Gundry Limited, for providing the specially designed goal nets being used on all grounds staging World Cup final series matches
W.D & H.O Wills for supplying the briefcases and portable desks for the use of officials, press radio and television personnel

Note the loan of the photocopiers and the fact that the briefcases were supplied by a cigarette manufacturer

Compare this with the multi-million dollar 8 year, category exclusive sponsorship programmes, global activation, brand integration activities now operated by FIFA for South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 and smile at the simplicity and pragmatism of it all and how much our industry has grown in a mere 44 years!

the vices of sports stars, new depths plumbed by Michael Vick

In the UK , we are used to sports stars excesses, e.g. drink driving, spending gazillions on a team ates birthday party,thousands on the horses, playing hide the sausage with page three girls etc etc...all fairly routine and boring News of the World fodder....imagine the headline "Premier League player vows to give organising Dog Fights and to campaign for dog welfare"

step up Michael Vick of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles

Vick Vows To Help End Dogfighting –, Michael Vick spoke out and told the world that he will now be an advocate to help stop dogfighting. He continued on to apologize once more for all that he has done wrong and admits that he was at fault for running an illegal dogfighting chain. Later this week CBS Sports’ James Brown who interviewed Vick commented that he felt Vick’s apology was sincere and that he was deserving of another chance on the field to prove so. Now keeping in mind that Vick has officially signed a short-term contract with the Philadelphia Eagles
and that the NFL is giving him another chance, do you think we will ever see Vick land a solid sponsorship agreement in the future? The Eagles think Vick will be a positive face for preventing animal cruelty in the community.


Sir, we salute you for Celebrity Innovation....you could not make it up

Ashes Alcohol sponsorship bandwagon frenzy

Disappointing to see serious sports journalists in the UK jumping on the Silly Season bandwagon screaming that alcohol sponsorship should be banned because a few beered up English cricket fans gave the Aussie Cricket captain a bit of stick at the Birmingham Test.

A couple of thoughts:

The media can't have it both ways...righteous indignation at exuberant fans after weeks, no months, of over hyped media build up, from Beefy to Jerusalem to 2005.

The Aussies thrive on confrontation on and off the pitch. Ricky Ponting is a master of the mind games and a bit of stick from a pissed up Brummie isn't going to offend him.Google him to see how many sportsmanship issues over the year.

Australia is the home of cricket sledging, they invented that part of the game. Professionals of any sport that has taken them to Australia will attest to the lively interaction with fans.

Lastly, every organisation in the sport welcomes beer and other sponsors with open arms, from the media corps to the players to national federations to the global governing body.

Does having beer sponsors involved with the teams change the fan behaviour, not a jot.


Drinks sponsors are a key part of our industry.....not their fault, so jump off the bandwagon guys.