The EFL and Utilita are pleased to announce a four-year partnership extension which will see the energy supplier continue as long-term title sponsor of the Kids and Girls Cup.
Utilita’s initial four-year sponsorship has seen more than 60,000 schoolchildren participate in competitive football across the nation – all with the opportunity to set foot on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium. The new deal will send this figure beyond 150,000.
The Utilita Kids and Girls Cups are national tournaments for junior footballers which offers children the once in a lifetime opportunity to play before the EFL Wembley Finals.
EFL Clubs through their Club Community Organisations run a local Kids and Girls Cup competition every season. The local winners of each Club’s competition earn the chance to represent their club in the Regional and National phases of the competition, where they face schools representing other EFL clubs, for the chance to play in the Utilita Kids and Girls Cup Grand Finals ahead of the EFL Trophy and EFL Play Off Finals.
The partnership has also seen almost 2,000 children and parents take part in the Utilita Football Festivals over the past two seasons. The events, held in collaboration with EFL Clubs, provide a free experience to young fans with Utilita ambassadors and EFL players in attendance to help run activities.
EFL Chief Commercial Officer, Ben Wright said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Utilita, who share our commitment to inspiring children and young people to live healthy and active lives.
“The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup creates memories to last a lifetime, giving young players across the country the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and play at the national stadium which we saw most recently at the Play-Offs and at the EFL Trophy Final in April.
“It has been fantastic to see EFL Clubs and their Club Community Organisations (CCOs), support this competition and we have seen some wonderful players take part in the Cup over the last four years, who we might even see play at Wembley again in years to come.”
Bill Bullen, Co-founder and CEO at Utilita Energy, said: “Our partnership with the EFL has blossomed since the very beginning, and together we have achieved some incredible things - particularly when it comes to supporting young, aspiring footballers.
“The Kids & Girls Cup is an exceptional competition that quickly became one of the most important in our calendar, so I’m delighted the partnership will continue for another four years.
“We use the Beautiful Game to give back, and to become part of, the communities we serve - whether that is working with clubs to reach the fans, or by bolstering opportunities through the Kids & Girls Cup, Utilita Football Festivals, or our Football Rebooted movement.”