Fulham Football Club is delighted to welcome Better leisure centres as Official Partner for the next three seasons; until the end of the 2022-2023 campaign.
During a month where gyms, swimming pools and leisure facilities are expected to reopen, Better joins Fulham FC’s portfolio of partners as the Club’s Official gym and leisure centre provider; with the partnership offering opportunities to promote a healthy lifestyle to Fulham FC fans and the wider football community.
The three-season deal will see the Better branding appear at Fulham FC’s ground, Craven Cottage, and the training facility at Motspur Park as well as access to the club’s digital and social media channels, player appearance and activations, when supporters return to matches.
The Club’s association with Better leisure centres began during the first COVID-19 lockdown over a year ago. The leisure operator provided gym equipment for the use of the first team players who were training at home, before the football season restarted in June 2020. That season the team successfully completed the campaign as winners of the Championship Play-Off against Brentford at Wembley and promotion to the Premier League.
David Currie Regional Business Manager for Better leisure centres, said:
“We are excited to be embarking on this new venture with Fulham FC. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and how conditions related to inactivity, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes significantly increase the risk of hospitalisation. Being in lockdown since early January has been a further challenge to the nation’s health. We’re now focussed on communicating the benefits of exercise and encouraging local residents back to fitness; our partnership with Fulham FC will help us do this.”
Jon Don-Carolis, Sales Director at Fulham FC, added:
“We have had the pleasure of working closely with Better for some time now and therefore delighted to formalise the relationship into an official commercial partnership. Both the Club, FFC Foundation and Better share many organisational values including a passion for improving health, participation and wellbeing within our communities. There is a lot anticipation and optimism for the future and we look forward to the 12th of April when the gyms reopen.”
Better leisure centres are operated by GLL – a charitable social enterprise that provides leisure, health and community services across the UK. Better leisure centres have over 650,000 members and work to promote healthy and active lifestyles.
Better has a strong community focus and commitment to ensuring that everyone regardless of age, fitness or income level, is able to access to their local leisure facilities and enjoy the mental and physical benefits that participating in physical activity offers.
–ENDS–
About Fulham Football Club:
Fulham Football Club was formed in 1879 as a local boys’ church side, Fulham St Andrew’s. The oldest of London’s first-class clubs, Fulham FC has a long and colourful history, spanning over 140 years, and is rightly positioned as London’s Original Football Club with its home, Craven Cottage, having hosted matches since 1896.
Promotion to the Premier League was first achieved in 2001 and the team remained in England’s top division until 2013. The Club reached the final of the inaugural Europa League in 2010, losing to Atletico Madrid 2-1 in extra-time.
Fulham FC Chairman Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League, purchased the Club in 2013.
The Club was promoted to the Premier League this summer (2020) by winning the Championship Play-Off Final against Brentford at Wembley Stadium.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Scott Parker, the team is participating in the Premier League in 2020-21.
About Better
Better is the consumer facing brand for GLL. Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. Operating under the Better brand, we manage 258 public sport and leisure centres, 113 libraries and 10 children’s centres in partnership with 50 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations. GLL has 850,000 members and welcomes 46 million customer visits per year.
For further press information:
Carole Pendle
On behalf of Better
https://www.better.org.uk
E: carole@pendlepr.com
T: 07768462601