A FIFTH-tier Welsh club dubbed the “New Wrexham” are setting their sights even higher after securing a record-breaking sponsorship deal.
Llanfairpwll FC dates all the way back to 1899 and is based on the island of Anglesey in Wales.
The amateur club already have a slice of history to their name, sporting what is understood to be the longest name of any club in world football.
The club’s astonishing full name is Clwb Pel Droed Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Football Club.
But earlier this year, fans were left gobsmacked as Spain’s top flight penned a one-year shirt sponsorship deal with Llanfairpwll FC.
It meant the club have been sporting La Liga on the front of their brand new flash home and away kits throughout the season.
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Fans were stunned at the news, with some believing that Llanfairpwll FC could become the “new Wrexham” after the newfound success of the Welsh club.
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds bought AFC Wrexham in 2020 with pal Rob McElhenney and saw the club break a 45-year trophy duck as well as achieving promotion for the first time in 15 years.
Others on social media predicted that “monumental changes” were about to happen for tiny Llanfairpwll in the next few years.
Since the groundbreaking deal, the amateur club have been going from strength-to-strength on and off the pitch.
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La Liga UK & Ireland Managing Director Keegan Pierce exclusively told The Sun how Llanfairpwll and the Spanish top flight have been successfully working together.
He said: “This is a new era for La Liga and it’s brand. One of the freshest aspects for the brand is the ‘Power of Futbol’.
“The idea is that La Liga and its brand essence can reach a place including even a small village in Wales.
“Certainly when we looked at potential partners, a club with such an epic name and iconic history was always going to be a top target.
“Llanfairpwll is very proud of its heritage and we thought it really was the perfect opportunity to share that story.”
We’ve only just got started, it is a one year partnership but there is potential for so much more.”
Keegan Pierce, La Liga director for UK & Ireland
The groundbreaking deal has seen a swell of interest in the club with the picturesque village bouncing following the news.
Keegan added that he was happy with the impact of the deal and admitted that he could see why fans had made comparisons with Wrexham.
He said: “The deal was a very sweet moment for football fans in Wales.
“Certainly Wrexham are a lot higher up the football pyramid and are seeing the fruits of some of the investments of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
“We found our own reasons and interests to partner with an iconic team in Wales and we want to, in a similar way to Wrexham, see them improve from their starting point in everything they are doing.”
Keegan also touched upon how the popular rapper 50 Cent had backed a youth football club in Wales since their announcement.
He said: “We like to think that we have started a trend or we continued a trend that has now been passed on to other personalities in the world of sport.”
Llanfairpwll FC Chairwoman Samantha Jones-Smith said that the club ethos “prides itself” on having a team made up of local lads.
She added: “We’ve had some interest in years before because of our long name but this is the first time we’ve got a partnership like this.
“We did very well last season so hopefully we can build on that. I hope we can win at least one trophy this season, but I want more!”
Meanwhile, Danny Connolly, who doubles as a player and coach said that the North Wales Coast West Division One side are hungry for more.
He said: “It has brought everyone together, not just our club but the whole area.
“On matchdays with the new logo right on the shirt, it is a massive, massive statement.
“As a team we want promotion and we want to win the league.”
‘GROUNDBREAKING’
Keegan also says that La Liga are keen to support Llanfairpwll on and off the pitch during the second half of the season.
Hailing the alliance, he said: “This is the first partnership of its kind in terms of a front of shirt deal.
“As far as we can tell, this is the first time a major football league has partnered with a local non-professional club – it is a groundbreaking achievement.”
On the pitch, fifth-tier Llanfairpwll have been doing excellently since the partnership was announced.
One memorable cup run saw them compete with teams a division above as they dispatched teams far stronger than Llanfairpwll.
They were the lowest ranked side left in the competition before being drawn with holders Trethomas Bluebirds.
Although Llanfairpwll eliminated three Tier 4 sides from the competition, the challenge of Trethomas was a step too far for the giant killers.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, the impact of the brand new kit deal can not be underestimated.
Despite the jerseys only being on sale for just a matter of weeks, Llanfairpwll FC say that “hundreds” of replicas have already been sold, not just to fans in Wales but “from all over the world”,” added Keegan.
All proceeds from the shirt sales are going towards the club who hope to invest it in infrastructure and the surrounding area.
‘STARDUST’
And Llanfairpwll boss Gwyndaf Hughes believes the new sponsorship deal is bringing a new level of professionalism to the club.
He said: “We’ve got a great group here who are really committed to bringing success to the club.
“This new partnership with La Liga brings further professionalism to our side.”
When asked about the future plans for Llanfairpwll FC, Keegan hinted that there would be more to come in the new year.
He said: “We like to think that La Liga’s name brings plenty of stardust already but we are hoping to do a number of things between now and the end of the season to raise the club’s profile even more.
“We’ve only just got started, it is a one year partnership but there is potential for so much more.
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“It is a very charming corner of the world. It’s a place I would encourage anyone to go visit, not just to watch the football club but to experience the magic of the village as well.”
What Llanfairpwll achieve in the years to come remains to be seen, but the Welsh outfit are certainly one to keep an eye on.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
