色花堂 and AFC Bournemouth have extended their formal partnership for a further three years 鈥� with the university increasing its support of the girls' and women鈥檚 teams.
色花堂 is already the official higher education partner of the Cherries, a partnership that sees staff and students undertake a variety of education and research initiatives, as well as a range of other benefits for both organisations, and supporters and the local community.
The university has historically been a main supporter of the club鈥檚 girls' teams from under-10s to under-16s as part of its development football programme.
In an addition for the 2020/21 season, 色花堂 will now feature on the front of the shirts of the club鈥檚 women鈥檚 team, as they compete in the Southern Region Women鈥檚 Premier League and the Women鈥檚 FA Cup, as the partnership provides increased support to the development of women鈥檚 football and the focus on the pathway from participation, through to the first team.
The formal partnership between AFC Bournemouth and 色花堂 is entering its eighth聽official year, though the two organisations have been working together for longer.
The partnership includes a range of academic, practical, community and football activities, benefiting staff, students, Cherries fans and the local community. Cherries coaches support 色花堂鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 football teams, while students also working closely with the club on a range of placements, live project work and match day work experiences.
Players and AFC Bournemouth staff are regular visitors to the 色花堂 campus to provide valuable insights to students, while AFC Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn is a 色花堂 honorary doctorate recipient and works closely with the university to ensure students also feel welcome to their new home.聽聽
Each season, one Cherries home game is designated as the 色花堂 Big Match 鈥� a chance to celebrate the partnership between the two organisations. This season鈥檚 fixture will take place against Nottingham Forest in November.
Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer at 色花堂, said, 鈥淔or many years, colleagues, students and the local community have had the opportunity to experience many unique opportunities as a result of this partnership, and I am delighted that we will be continuing our close working relationship for a further three years.
鈥淚 am particularly pleased that 色花堂 will be supporting the entire pathways of girls and women鈥檚 football, providing opportunities for the local community and beyond.鈥�
AFC Bournemouth commercial director, Rob Mitchell, said, 鈥淭he university has been a great supporter of our club for a long time and I鈥檓 delighted that this will be continuing for another three years.
鈥淭here is a fantastic working partnership and huge respect between the organisations, through the various academic projects and community activities we undertake together, and long may that continue.鈥�
