Bank of Scotland today (Monday, July 9) announced a three-year £6 million extension to its title sponsorship of the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League.
This new agreement extends the existing sponsorship of the SPL to over six seasons, and will commence at the end of the current agreement, which runs until the close of season 2001/2002. The extension will run until the end of season 2004/2005.
This latest investment brings Bank of Scotland’s direct support of Scottish football up to £10 million since 1999, underlining its position as the largest Scottish corporate sponsor of Scottish football.
The new deal is also a major boost to youth football in Scotland as these funds each season will be earmarked for youth development by Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League clubs.
Announcing the new deal George Mitchell, Treasurer and Managing Director of Bank of Scotland, said: ‘This new deal and three-year extension of our sponsorship will take Bank of Scotland’s involvement with the Scottish Premier League to over six seasons and underlines our continuing commitment to improving the profile and development of Scotland’s national game at both senior and youth levels.
‘Bank of Scotland has worked closely with the SPL to ensure that this is a pro-active sponsorship which brings benefits to the clubs, the supporters, our customers and the community at large. I am particularly pleased that there is to be an increased emphasis on youth development as this is very much the lifeblood and future of the game in Scotland.’
A key aspect of the sponsorship will be further investment by the SPL clubs in youth academies and work towards the extension of the SPL Youth Development Initiative to include players at all levels from under-9s as is already the case in England, Holland and several other European countries.
These two factors will be critical in continuing the improvement of development opportunities for the very best young players at Scotland’s top clubs.
Welcoming the deal Roger Mitchell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League, said: ‘I am delighted that Bank of Scotland, one of the biggest names in Scottish and UK business, has pledged its on-going support to the SPL.
‘Bank of Scotland and the SPL are both integral to the fabric of Scottish society, and it is good that they will both continue to be linked in this way. It has been an extremely fruitful relationship and one that can only improve the professional standing of the SPL on a national and international basis.
‘We already see the fruits of the SPL focus on youth development in many clubs. This new partnership with Bank of Scotland will take it to the next level.’
Bank of Scotland is one of the country’s largest sponsors of sport, investing £2.4 million this year in supporting Scottish sport across a wide range of partnerships including the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team for the Commonwealth Games 2002, schools football, badminton, athletics, curling, golf, hockey, swimming and shinty. The Bank is also a partner in the bid to bring the Ryder Cup to Scotland in 2009.
For further information please contact:
Alastair Ross – Bank of Scotland tel: 0131 243 7055 / 07879 604565 Out of hours tel.: 07669 004510
E-mail: Alastair_Ross@bankofscotland.co.uk
Malcolm Brown/David Southern – Atlantic Public Relations tel. 0131 624 0800 / 07831 817 752
Graeme Speirs – Carnegie Group tel. 0131 624 0700 / 07788 925 010