Barclays expands FA partnership

New deal to develop and promote the women’s game.

The Football Association (FA), England’s football governing body, has announced that its long-term sponsor and partner Barclays will be investing £30 million in the women’s and girls’ games over the course of the next three years, which will see the partnership run till 2025.

The bank and the FA’s new partnership will expand on the latter’s long-standing partnership with Barclays, which has been a partner of the Premier League for 20 years now. In 2019, Barclays had become the title sponsor of the Women’s Super League as it attempted to grow the women’s game. It will now also become the title sponsor of the Women’s Championship from 2022/23.

Kelly Simmons, the FA’s director of women’s professional game, commented:

“As part of the FA’s 2020-2024 women’s and girls’ strategy, Inspiring Positive Change, we set ourselves the ambition of providing equal access for all girls at 90 per cent of primary and secondary schools in the UK, and Barclays’ continued support and investment has allowed us to make great strides in achieving this ambition.

“From grassroots to the top tiers of women’s football, we are also extremely excited to welcome Barclays as the new title sponsor of the FA Women’s Championship. The FA Women’s Championship plays a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the pyramid structure and the credible history and association to football that Barclays has will make the league even stronger.”

Premier League’s chief commercial officer, Will Brass, added:

“Barclays has always been a fantastic partner of the Premier League and we are very pleased to be extending our long-standing association for another three years.

“Over two decades Barclays has demonstrated their support for football, both on and off the pitch. And together we share an ambition of creating opportunities at all levels and ensuring everyone is welcome to enjoy the game. We look forward to further developing our relationship over the coming years.”

Barclays has also announced that it will increase and expand ties with schools to invest in the girls’ grassroots programme and has extended its sponsorship of the FA Girls’ Football School Partnership.