Wednesday 8 November 2006
UMBRO, the world’s leading football brand and the Supplier of the Official FA Cup Matchball, has teamed up with Everyman, the UK’s leading male cancer campaign, and eBay for Charity, to auction three new UMBRO FA Cup X Balls, signed by England Captain, John Terry.
The UMBRO FA Cup X Ball was recently unveiled as the new football to be used throughout this season’s FA Cup and will hit retail outlets during the first week of November before being used for the first time when clubs from around the country compete in The FA Cup First Round on Saturday, 11th November.
To mark the occasion, UMBRO’s John Terry has exclusively signed three UMBRO FA Cup X Balls which will be placed on eBay. Members of the public are invited to bid for the matchballs with all proceeds going to “Keep Your Eye On The Ball”, a joint campaign run by The Professional Footballers' Association, The Football Association and Everyman to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancers within the football community and raise funds for research into male cancer.
Each of the three signed UMBRO FA Cup X Balls will be placed on www.eBay.co.uk for a 10-day auction period. Bidding on the first UMBRO FA Cup X Ball will commence prior to The FA Cup First Round on Friday 10th November. The two remaining X Balls will be auctioned over the remaining weeks leading up to The FA Cup Third Round on Saturday 6th January, 2007.
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For further information please contact:
Charlie Noblet or James Southerland
Threepipe Communications
t: +44 (0) 207 470 8830
m: +44 (0)7917 008009 / +44 (0)7920 539383
e: charlie@threepipe.co.uk / james.southerland@threepipe.co.uk
Notes to editors:
About Umbro
- UMBRO is a globally recognised football brand with a strong heritage derived from more than 80 years' association with the sport of football. Based in the UK, where the UMBRO business was founded in 1924, the group designs, sources and markets football-related products, which are sold in over 90 countries.
- UMBRO has a proud tradition of working with some of the greatest names in world football and currently has partnerships with many of the game’s top teams, including:
- England, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Brazilian Beach Soccer, Everton, Glasgow Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Celta Vigo, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Dinamo, Malaga, Alaves, Cruz Azul, Clube Atlético Paranaense, FC Santos, Playas de Castellon (Futsal)
- UMBRO also works closely with some of football’s biggest global stars and next-generation talent, including:
- Michael Owen, Deco, John Terry, Tim Cahill, David James, Alan Shearer, Michel Salgado, Shola Ameobi, David Dunn, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Luis Garcia
- UMBRO is also dedicated to developing the grass roots of football through initiatives such as the UMBRO International Cup – a football festival held each year in Manchester attracting over 400 teams from more than 25 nations.
- As football and fashion become increasingly inter-connected, UMBRO has forged strategic partnerships with some of the leading names in world fashion including Kim Jones, Philip Treacy and London’s Royal College of Art. www.umbro.com
About Keep Your Eye On The Ball and the Everyman Campaign
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Keep Your Eye On The Ball was set-up by The Professional Footballers’ Association, The Football Association and The Everyman Male Cancer Campaign five years ago in response to several high profile players being diagnosed with testicular cancer. The aim is to raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer within the football community. All money raised for the campaign goes directly to research into male cancer at The Everyman Centre – Europe’s first and only centre dedicated to male cancer research and part of The Institute of Cancer Research. www.keepyoureyeontheball.org
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The Everyman Campaign is run by The Institute of Cancer Research to raise awareness of, and fund research into, testicular and prostate cancer at The Everyman Centre – Europe’s first and only research centre dedicated to male cancer.
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To find out more about Everyman and ways in which you can help raise funds for male cancer research or for further information on testicular and prostate cancers please contact Everyman on 0800 731 9468 or logon at www.everyman-campaign.org.