FA Inks Mars Partnership Extension

The Football Association has extended their association with Mars Chocolate UK for a further four years. 

It means Mars will continue its role as Official Supporter of the England Team and remain Official Partner to the Just Play programme until July 2018. 

To celebrate, The FA and Mars will offer fans nationwide the chance to take part in free Just Play sessions close to home during the tournament in Brazil next summer. 

The Just Play programme was launched in June 2011 and aims to increase the numbers of adults playing football. 

Since 2011 the programme has:Created 200,000 adult places at Just Play kickabout sessionsOpened over 200 Just Play centres nationwideTrained over 400 Just Play organisers 

Roy Hodgson (right), England manager, said: “Mars has shown a genuine commitment to making it easy for adults to get back to playing football. This goes hand-in-hand with the enthusiasm of our fantastic fans and the support our team enjoys from all corners of the country. Extending The FA’s partnership with Mars is extremely positive news for the English game.” 

Fiona Dawson, President of Mars Chocolate UK, said: “We are extremely proud of Mars’ great heritage of working within football. Extending our partnership with The FA enables us to build on Just Play’s success and together we want to get even more adults back on the pitch. 

“Over the next four years, we’ll be working to create one million opportunities to participate in a kickabout close to home. And, as a treat during the tournament next summer, Just Play for Free will encourage fans to rediscover their love of playing when football fever is at its highest.” 

The agreement was negotiated by The FA’s sponsorship team, led by Peter Daire who commented: “I’m delighted we have signed Mars for a further four years. Mars are great to work with and their promotion of England and Just Play is of huge benefit to The FA as a whole. It is testament to the strength of The FA Partner Programme that we are able to sign long term deals with such blue chip brands.”

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