Prostate Cancer UK has been announced at the official charity partner of the Football League for the new season.

The partnership, discount which is being called ‘a season saving men’s lives,’ has former England, AC Milan and Watford striker Luther Blissett on board.

Blissett launched the campaign today with David Annand, who was diagnosed with the disease last year at the age of 49. He will be walking 500 miles around football grounds in the UK to help raise awareness.

Throughout the season, players, staff and fans of the 72 clubs in the league will partake in a range of activities to help raise funds for the charity.

Blissett said: “Prostate Cancer UK’s ground breaking partnership with the Football League is a fantastic way to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men.

“It’s brilliant that my old clubs, Watford, Bournemouth and Bury, will be joining forces with the wider football community to spread the word about prostate cancer this season and help raise funds for the range of support services Prostate Cancer UK has to offer men affected by the disease.”

Owen Sharp, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We hope that everyone who comes through the turnstiles this season will get behind the partnership to raise as much as possible and make an even bigger difference to the 250,000 men affected by the disease throughout the UK.”

Greg Clarke, chair of the Football League, said: “I would encourage fans up and down the country to get involved with fundraising at their local league club to help fight this disease.”

Brokerage and banking company Charles Schwab Corporation has been named as the official investment firm of the 34^th America’s Cup.

The San Francisco-Headquartered company will sponsor all the events that lead up to the Finals in July 2013, taking in the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

According to an official press release: ‘Schwab will be hosting events at America’s Cup venues and Schwab branches throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and will have a significant brand presence during America’s Cup events, including the opening event of the 2012 AC World Series in San Francisco from August 21-26, 2012.’

Laurine Garrity, Charles Schwab Chief Marketing Officer said: “Investing and sailing require a similar mindset, including the need to have a strategic plan and the discipline to keep focused on the future.

“We are excited to be part of this prestigious event in our hometown, and look forward to hosting the America’s Cup competitors and fans over the next year.”

America’s Cup Event Authority chief executive Stephen Barclay added: “When San Francisco was announced as host city in 2010, Schwab registered their interest in partnering with the America’s Cup.

“Through our discussions, we have realised our objectives align and we are delighted to welcome them as a member of the America’s Cup family.

“We are proud to see another blue-chip company join our growing team of partners.”

About Charles Schwab

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with more than 300 offices and 8.7 million active brokerage accounts, 1.5 million corporate retirement plan participants, 829,000 banking accounts, and $1.82 trillion in client assets as of July 31, 2012. The company was ranked ‘Highest in Investor Satisfaction With Self-Directed Services’ in the 2012 US Self-Directed Investor Satisfaction Study^SM from J.D. Power and Associates. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through its Advisor Services division. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides trust and custody services, banking and mortgage services and products. Investment products offered by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or obligations of Charles Schwab Bank, and are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal invested.

Footwear and apparel company, ampoule ASICS, will be the new apparel sponsor of the Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon.

It is the first time ASICS has sponsored the event and the sponsorship will be managed from the ASICS Malaysia office.

ASCIS has previously sponsored  the New York City Marathon, Paris Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore amongst others.

Kris Lee, the Assistant Brand Manager of Giga Sports , official distributor of ASICS’ in Malaysia said sponsoring the Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon 2012 will further elevate ASICS’ position as a leading sports apparel label in Malaysia.

“We find APBIM a regional and internationally renowned marathon for serious runners that resonate our creed and image,” he said.

ASICS is organising a number of running clinics in the lead up to the November event.{jcomments on}

Virgin Media have moved quickly to secure double Olympic champion Mo Farah in their latest ad campaigns.

Farah won Olympic gold in the 5, medstore 000 and 10, denture 000m competitions at London 2012 and will now follow in the footsteps of fellow Olympian Usain Bolt, nurse who appeared in Virgin’s adverts dressed as founder Sir Richard Branson.

The deal is thought to be worth up to £500,000 and claims that the companies broadband can double speeds, a reference to Farah’s double Olympic medal success.

Jeff Dodds, Virgin Media Executive Director of Brand and Marketing Communications said: “After delivering a stellar performance in the Olympic Games, Mo has found a special place in all of our hearts and is a fully fledged national hero.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with him. Virgin Media is all about delivering brilliant entertainment and nobody has got the nation cheering at their TVs more than Mo over the last couple of weeks.

“Like Mo, we are also obsessed with speed, particularly broadband speed. Mo will join our other sponsored athlete, Usain Bolt, in ensuring that we inspire the nation to keep up.”

The deal was struck after the non-Olympic sponsor black-out was lifted a week earlier and the campaign was launched across national newspapers.

Global shipping and logistics company GAC, sale sponsors of Sheffield United since 2009, cialis have extended their sponsorship with the League One side.

GAC is the official logistics partner of the Blades and sponsors the South Stand at United’s home ground, advice Bramall Lane.

Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Sheffield United said: “We are passionate about working with forward thinking organisations that share our commitment to providing a quality service for our customers.

“Obviously that service is intrinsically linked to how the team performs and we are all looking forward to a successful season both on and off the pitch.”

Gurumurthi Shankar, Group Sales Director at GAC added his delight at the extension: “We value long-term relationships with business partners, customers, suppliers and our own staff, and are extremely happy to have extended our current deal with the Blades.”

The original deal in 2009 was reportedly worth US$250,000.

World sports radio station, talkSPORT, has formed a partnership with Premiership Rugby to broadcast the Aviva Premiership season.

The deal will see talkSPORT broadcast key live Aviva Premiership Rugby matches throughout the season including the London Double Header and finals on air and online.

The station will also provide in game updates and interviews with key rugby players throughout the season.

talkSPORT’s sister publication Sport magazine will also feature interviews with players around key clashes and Premiership Rugby will be using talkSPORT for exclusive news and announcements throughout the season.

talkSPORT will also receive branding and promotions from Premiership Rugby, including advertising on perimeter boards at the Aviva Premiership Final.

Last season talkSPORT was an official broadcaster of the Aviva Premiership semi-finals and final matches with full match commentary on all three games. The station was also the official media partner of Harlequins’ Big Game 4 last December.

Moz Dee, talkSPORT Programme Director, said: “talkSPORT’s rugby coverage has grown enormously over the past year. Not only were we the exclusive UK broadcasters of the 2011 Rugby World Cup but our live Aviva Premiership Rugby commentary at the end of last season and our dedicated rugby show Full Contact have all proved very successful.

“With live Barclays Premier League and FA Cup coverage, this season we’re broadcasting more live commentary than ever before, and this agreement with Premiership Rugby widens our regular live sport output beyond football. We’re in a great position to bring the highest calibre of live sport to our listeners and attract new sponsors to this exciting proposition.”

Dan Kiddle, Premiership Rugby Head of Marketing added: “Premiership Rugby was delighted with the way the partnership progressed at the end of last season and the fact that it has now been extended for a full season is a positive sign that the demand for Aviva Premiership Rugby is growing every year.

“Everyone involved in Aviva Premiership Rugby can’t wait for the kick off – at Twickenham Stadium on 1 September -with the traditional London Double Header and to have talkSPORT on board enhances the tournament.”

Land Rover have announced a new four-year sponsorship deal with Premiership Rugby, building on a successful eight-relationship.

The partnership, which will run to the end of the 2015/16 campaign was announced at the launch of the new Aviva Premiership Rugby season.

This new deal includes the continuation of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, a nationwide grassroots tournament for under 11s and under 12s. The tournament aims to inspire youngsters in the sport to be like their rugby heroes and Land Rover has already enabled more than 30,000 children to take part over the last four years.

The car company will also be providing Discovery 4s to all Premiership Rugby club’s community departments to help them with the development of the game.

Laura Schwab, Marketing Director, Land Rover UK, said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Premiership Rugby. Land Rover and rugby are synonymous and we are excited to be involved in a sport which shares so many of our core values – strength, integrity, determination – all elements that are needed to create great competitive rugby and world class all-terrain vehicles.

“We are extremely proud of the work that we have done over the last eight years with Premiership Rugby and the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. We are committed to supporting the development of game and are delighted to remain a part of Premiership Rugby’s grassroots programme. We are looking forward to this relationship developing further over the next four years.”

Mark McCafferty, CEO of Premiership Rugby added: “Our partnership with Land Rover is one of the longest in rugby and we are delighted to be extending it for another four years.

“Professional rugby in England has never been in a better place and to see a world-famous brand like Land Rover extending its Official Partner relationship with Premiership Rugby for this length of time is testament to that.

“Land Rover is entrenched in the sport of rugby and it’s great that such a recognisable brand has identified Premiership Rugby as a central pillar of its association with the game.

“We have had a fantastic partnership over the last eight years and have been particularly proud to work with them on the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup and Premiership Rugby Academies.”

Land Rover’s support of Premiership Rugby is a part of the company’s well-established, long-term relationship with rugby which includes Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, the British & Irish Lions tours in 2005 and 2009 to New Zealand and South Africa, Top 14 Orange in France as well as the 2011 Shanghai Sevens and Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens in 2011.

Queens Park Rangers have followed in the footsteps of Manchester United by announcing Hong Kong based air freight company ASR Holdings as the club’s first official logistics partner.

As part of the deal, abortion which initially runs for one year, the company’s logo will feature on the Premier League side’s first team training kit.

QPR become the second Premier League team to have such a training kit deal after United agreed a deal with DHL in August.

Tony Fernandes, QPR Chairman said: “This is a significant breakthrough for QPR. We are only the second club in the Premier League, behind Manchester United, to have a training kit sponsor, which speaks volumes of where we are going in terms of our commercial aspirations.”

Niki Law, executive director of ASR, added: “We are pleased to be appointed as the first official logistics partner of Queens Park Rangers which marks a major step in our development history.

“Riding on our pioneering and distinctive position in the air cargo wholesaling industry, this is an ideal match of an industry leader with a brand in the world’s most popular football league and we are confident that the result will be a win for both QPR and ASR.”

 

Newcastle Falcons have announced that HM Plant, check the UK excavator supplier, drugs will be the club’s new main sponsor on a two-year deal.

Under the new agreement, the HM Plant logo will become a prominent feature of the club’s new era, appearing on the front and right sleeve of the team’s playing shirts.

Newcastle Falcons commercial director Duncan Edward said: “I am absolutely delighted that HM Plant has entered into partnership with the Falcons.

“It is fantastic that a prestigious, respected and regionally based company has renewed their association with us and chosen to support the club at a time when we need the full backing of the North East.

“This is a clear statement of intent of which we are thankful for and are hopeful it is one that will see HM Plant backing us in to the Aviva Premiership next season.”

Founded in 1979, HM Plant is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, who are dedicated to providing market leading machinery and advanced technology to their customers.

They are a well-known name in domestic sport, after a long running programme serving as title sponsor to Honda Racing UK.

National Rugby League (NRL) side South Sydney Rabbitohs have announced the re-signing of De’Longhi Group home appliance brands De’Longhi and Kenwood as major corporate partners of the club.

The renewal ensures that both brands will sponsor the team for an additional two years.

The De’Longhi logo will appear on the front of the club’s away and alternate shirts while the Kenwood logo will appear on the sleeve of the team’s playing jerseys and the front of the Rabbitoh’s training jerseys for the next two NRL seasons.

Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said: “De’Longhi and Kenwood are premium brands in their respective markets and we’re very proud to be continuing our association with both companies.

“Our aim has always been to associate ourselves with premium brands, particularly amongst our family of major corporate partners.

“These renewed corporate partnerships represent a vote of confidence in what we are doing and achieving as a Club on the field as well as off the field and in our local communities through Souths Cares, and we look forward to working with the teams at De’Longhi and Kenwood for the long term.”

CEO of De’Longhi Australia and Kenwood, Paolo Albertoni, added: “We are very pleased to extend our association with the South Sydney Rabbitohs for another two seasons with both our brands De’Longhi and Kenwood.

“We have been sponsoring Souths for the last five seasons and we see real value coming from this association in raising the awareness and equity of our brands in Australia.

“Our partnership goes a lot further than a brand logo on a jersey. We share the same values, we collaborate at all levels, and we are always looking for better ways of leveraging this great relationship on the field and off the field.”

Financial terms were not released but based on similar agreements, De’Longhi Group’s overall commitment to the Rabbitohs is likely to be worth between US$800,000 to US$1.2 million annually.