Sponsored Players

[Sarah Star]

I notice in the Saints programme that a lot of their players are sponsored by companies. I have no idea how this works - whether it's just for a game or a season or what all parties get from it - but is this something that Reading would want to do ... or do we do it already? I don't know.

[Royal Lady]

Supporters used to sponsor the players' shirts, socks and shorts and training kit a few years ago.

[OzBiscuit2004]

I was a member of a consortium that sponsored Uwe Hartenbergers laces.

[Sarah Star]

What did you get for your money...other than the satisfaction of watching your laces run round the pitch, obviously?

[Rex]

Plenty of players from other teams get sponsored. Players at reading get cars sponsorship. Murty has his BMW. Kitson did have a car sponsor. What the car companies get out of this i am not too sure of really. Cars will usually sell despite a high (ish) profiled player driving the car. Free servicing, valeting, ability to change the car when needed, no financial loss other than running costs.

[OzBiscuit2004]

What did you get for your money...other than the satisfaction of watching your laces run round the pitch, obviously?

Our consortium ( The Allhallows Road Royals) were mentioned in the home programme. That's it.

[RG30]

HNA? star "Hugo Boss" sponsored Adie Williams Training Kit in the 1995/1996 season. It cost £50 back then.

[Sarah Star]

Why don't we do that anymore?

[Dirk Gently]

Good question. I'd imagine either that the sums involved are so small that it's not worth the hassle of selling them all or they don't think they'd seell them, or that they reckon the income from selling the page in every programme that this would take up would be less than selling adverts on that page every game.

In the 70s/80s (forget which year) I paid for Richie Bowman's shorts.

[Hoop Blah]

It's probably thought that with all the money coming into the games these days, and the massive wages flying around too, that it would be a bit cheeky to ask for their tie up's and socks to be paid for on top of everything else.

[Sarah Star]

I've had another look in the Saints programme and it says:

Player Sponsorship

Exclusive benefits include

Meet your player
Signed player's shirt
Media & Matchday brand exposure
Invite to exclusive player awards dinner

Prices start from £500 + VAT for the remainder of the season.

tbh, I'm not sure whether it would be worth it for Reading to do the same thing for £500. It sounds like a drop in the ocean compared to some of the team's wages.

[Rex]

Without making it sound patronising it is usually the lower division players who get sponsorship to keep them financially afloat. RFC first players clearly do not now need such lowly sponsorship for kit. The players mainly get associated now with putting back into the community not taking from it.

[rabidbee]

Ahem, prices start at £500 + VAT. What's the betting that's for kids?

With 40-odd players in a squad, if you could raise on average £1,000 a player like this, why not?

[Sun Tzu]

Years ago I suggested to the club that they should revive the player sponsorship but limit it to the U18s, keep the prices reasonable and offer it as more of a way of allowing fans to build connections with players rather than a money spinner. Any money raised could go to Community Schemes etc....

[Chuckle Brother]

Years ago I suggested to the club that they should revive the player sponsorship but limit it to the U18s, keep the prices reasonable and offer it as more of a way of allowing fans to build connections with players rather than a money spinner. Any money raised could go to Community Schemes etc....

And what was their response ?

For the record, my mate sponsored Wayne W@nklyn's socks when he moved to Wokingham Town.

[Sun Tzu]

Years ago I suggested to the club that they should revive the player sponsorship but limit it to the U18s, keep the prices reasonable and offer it as more of a way of allowing fans to build connections with players rather than a money spinner. Any money raised could go to Community Schemes etc....

And what was their response ?

well you'll have gathered they didn't take up on it !
At the time everything was bottom line - if something didn't make money they didn't do it and they didn;t see it as a money spinner. I even asked if i could be allowed to run a scheme and donate the income to a relevant organisation....

[Forbury Lion]

Why don't we do that anymore?

About 4 or 5 years ago a guy at work e-mailed the club about this and they said something like the programmes were printed so far in advance, not enough room etc etc.

We suggested they stick the name on the scoreboard when they show the players pre-match, Reading FC guy (Adam West I think) thought that was a good idea, but nothing materialised.

[Alan Partridge]

They do this at torquay and I'm surprised Reading don't do it. MAke a little bit of income,nothing earth shattering but something more for the fans than anything.

It's £300 for the season at Torquay. And for that you get signed home and away shirts presented by the player of your choice, in the match day programme and website forthe season and tickets to the end of season do at the club. I think it also gives you priority to sponsor the matchball for a game and be in the hospitality at a cut price.