Hats off to WBA for Haiti initiative

Ed Drake
January 17, 2010
1 Comment
You can make a difference. Photo: EPA/Orlando Barrla

You can make a difference. Photo: EPA/Orlando Barrla

We have reported on the shirt-sponsoring trials of West Bromwich Albion in the past. The Championship football club have been unable seal a permanent sponsorship deal and so have had to hawk their shirt space to the highest bidder on a week-by-week basis.

The advertising market is so cash-starved that so far the Baggies have only managed to strike deals with online betting companies Blue Square and Victor Chandler although they would have had no trouble finding takers for tomorrow night’s showpiece against leaders Nottingham Forest, which will take place live on Sky television,

However, to their immense credit Albion have decided to pass up on a guaranteed sponsorship pay day of £10,000 in favour of showing support for the earthquake aid effort. West Brom are doing their bit for the cause by wearing ‘DEC Haiti Appeal’ logos on their shirts for Monday’s top-of-the-table clash at Newcastle.

Over 2.2 million people live in the most affected areas in Port-au-Prince where thousands are feared dead, many more injured or buried under rubble – and the DEC urgently needs support.

Monday night’s sponsorship will include details of DEC, the Disasters Emergency Committee’s website address, where donations can be made, while Albion will again auction off the 18 shirts worn by the squad against Newcastle in aid of the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. The club have also promised a donation.

“Everyone at the Club has been saddened by the terrible tragedy unfolding in Haiti,” said West Brom’s chairman Jeremy Peace. “The images we’ve witnessed in the media are deeply upsetting and the number of people affected is difficult to comprehend.

“Therefore, we felt we were in a perfect position to utilise the flexible nature of our shirt sponsorship and react immediately to help raise money for the people of Haiti who have been affected by the earthquake.

“Additionally, we will be auctioning off Monday’s match shirts and the proceeds, together with a further donation, will go to the DEC Haiti Appeal.

“We are hoping the fact our players will be wearing the appeal logo in front of a national TV audience will make even more people aware of how they can donate money to the aid effort.”

Calvin Ayre, who contributed £10,000 to the relief effort via The Calvin Ayre Foundation, has already challenged the rest of the gaming industry to contribute to the relief effort via Oxfam’s website to help out in Haiti – and has vowed to match any proven payment to Oxfam by an online gaming person up to $1,000,000.

So well done to West Brom – and if you haven’t already donated, please don’t put it off, click here.

If you have any further information related to this story that you would like to share with us privately please click here.

Can't get enough CalvinAyre.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, then you'll never miss out on the latest gaming industry news.

Share
Tags: Article, Blue Square, Calvin Ayre, Calvin Ayre Foundation, Haiti earthquake aid effort, West Bromwich Albion
Views and opinions expressed are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com