Southampton FC Women’s team has announced the renewal of its partnership with principal sponsor Starling Bank following a successful first year working together.
The renewed collaboration, extending the partnership by three years, signifies the remarkable success and shared vision between the two organisations that remain passionate about the growth of the women’s game.
The three-year deal will see Starling and the Saints create more grassroots football opportunities for women and girls in the Hampshire region.
The decision to extend the partnership comes following an extraordinary period for Southampton FC Women. Throughout the 2022/2023 season, the team has experienced unprecedented growth, with average attendance for each match increasing by 355% compared to the previous season, highlighting the passion and loyalty of its new and dedicated supporters.
Furthermore, Southampton FC Women has witnessed an outstanding increase in season ticket sales, with a remarkable 180% growth between the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons.
The partnership renewal comes ahead of the team’s new kit launch, which will be Starling’s first sponsored shirt that’s available for general purchase.
Marking the partnership renewal, Southampton FC has introduced a new milestone in its merchandise offering. For the first time in the club’s history women’s team shirts will be on sale, catering to the growing demand and dedication of the fanbase.
Charlie Boss, Chief Commercial Officer at Southampton FC said: “Our club is extremely proud of everything our women’s team has achieved on and off the pitch. Starling’s continued support and belief in our vision has been instrumental in the team’s remarkable growth and success. This renewed partnership is a testament to the unwavering commitment of both organisations to achieving greatness together.”
Rachel Kerrone, Brand and Marketing Director at Starling said: “There has been so much progress in women’s football in the last year. We want to help the tide rise for women and girls everywhere, both in technology and in sport, and I can’t wait to see what we can do with Southampton FC Women in the next three years and beyond.”
Since launching their partnership in 2022, Southampton Football Club and Starling Bank have made fantastic progress in helping to propel women’s football to new heights.
Over the last 12 months, they have focussed on bridging the gap between the matchday experience of the men’s and women’s teams and fuelling the attendance of passionate fans. Moreover, they have introduced ground-breaking initiatives such as “Coaches of Tomorrow” – a visionary programme that aims to empower and inspire a new generation of women and girls to conquer the realm of football coaching. In the last year, the initiative has trained up 20 women from the region into qualified grassroots football coaches.
The bank also funded a free ticket giveaway to the Conti Cup in 2022, resulting in a record number of ticket sales (just over 8,000) for the women’s team at St Mary’s Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur.
