AFCB players Lucy Cooper (left) and Elle Elkins正澳门六合彩资料 (BU) and AFC Bournemouth have announced the renewal of their partnership for a further two-years for the benefit of students, staff, supporters and the local community.
The two organisations have been long-term partners, with the latest agreement stretching their official relationship into its 13th聽year. The university is the official higher education partner of AFC Bournemouth.
BU will continue to be a principal partner and the official front-of-shirt sponsor of the women鈥檚 and girls鈥� teams, while AFC Bournemouth will continue to promote BU throughout the Vitality Stadium on matchdays.
In an exciting new agreement, women鈥檚 shirts will this season be available in the club聽聽for the first time, as supporters are able to buy the BU-branded top in adult sizing.聽
BU students will continue to be at the heart of the agreement, with further opportunities to engage with the Club. Journalism students work alongside media on matchdays to get vital experience in sports journalism, while the Club offers opportunities to work in various roles across the organisation. For the first time this season, AFC Bournemouth will sponsor two students for the next two years as part of BU鈥檚 studentship programme. This will offer vital financial and mentoring support to students.
Two Cherries first team players 鈥� Abby Jones and Katie Scadding 鈥� will continue in their roles coaching the BU women鈥檚 football team.聽
Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer at 正澳门六合彩资料, said: 鈥淚 am so proud of all that our partnership has achieved across many years, and the number of young people and students who have benefitted through our co-working. It is so important for us to partner with local organisations to work for the benefit of our community and I am delighted that this agreement will see us continue to do so for the next two years as we continue to cheer on AFC Bournemouth鈥檚 teams across all levels in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons鈥�.
Rob Mitchell, Commercial Director at AFC Bournemouth, also commented: 鈥淲e are incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic institution like BU on our doorstep and we鈥檝e really benefitted from the partnership over the years. I look forward to strengthening that relationship even further and working closely together again in a deal that will continue to aid the local community.鈥澛犅�
Each season, the partnership is celebrated through the BU Big Match 鈥� one match in the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 calendars designated to showcase the partnership to supporters. This season鈥檚 men鈥檚 Big Match will take place against Liverpool in February 2025, with the women鈥檚 BU Big match confirmed at a later date.
Support will continue for the Junior Cherries as a part of the partnership, with BU providing free Junior Cherries passes to girls signed up to play for AFC Bournemouth鈥檚 junior teams, and events will be co-delivered to provide education opportunities for Junior Cherries.
Men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 first team players engage with staff and students as a part of the partnership. Last season, Ryan Christie, Marcos Senesi and Gemma McGuinness attended an event at 正澳门六合彩资料 to welcome new international students to the region and give some tips on settling into life on the south coast.
