8×8, Inc Renew their Sponsorship with Southampton FC

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Image Credit: TippaPatt / Shutterstock.com

8×8, Inc. has confirmed the renewal of their sponsorship with Southampton Football Club, becoming an official partner of both the Men’s and Women’s First Teams in the 2025/26 season.

The renewal will continue the football club’s usage of 8×8’s cloud-based contact centre and communication technology, as well as the tech company’s benefits when using the LED perimeter board for visibility, digital and social media integration.

8×8, Inc is a costumer experience (CX) platform provider who provide cloud-based and AI infrastructure allowing partnered companies to establish real-time communication with their costumers to personalise their experiences.

The company highlights on its website that its communications technology serves over three million users worldwide, earning the trust of clients across sectors ranging from finance to healthcare.

8×8, Inc. in March won Best CPaaS Platform at the CX Awards 2025, being recognised for their modular platform which integrates various internal tools and embedded AI, and seamless UCaaS solutions.

EMEA Managing Director at 8X8, Inc, Jamie Snaddon affirms Southampton FC’s represents the values that deeply resonate with the company.

“This partnership is about more than sponsorship,” he said via press release.

“It’s about giving the club the tools to connect with supporters in ways that feel personal, whether that’s answering a fan’s question, delivering a matchday update, or creating a memorable surprise.

“We’re proud to keep building those moments together.”

Director of IT at Southampton FC, Huw Fielding said the technology 8×8 has become a part of the way the club operates to support the ticketing and hospitality services for their supporter’s experience.

“Renewing this partnership means we can keep raising the bar for how we connect with fans, on matchdays and throughout the year,” he said via press release.

A few months ago, when 8×8, Inc became the Official Business Communications Partner for Southampton FC, the club had players call season book holders through 8×8’s Contact Centre to talk about their decades of support.

Both 8×8, Inc. and Southampton FC will collaborate further on community outreach initiatives, technology-led engagement projects, and exclusive fan experiences.

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Manchester City open new training centre for Women’s First Team

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Image credit: Manchester City

The training centre opened earlier this week, following years of planning, investment and ambition for Manchester City Women.

State-of-the-art facilities

Recently crowned WSL Champions, Manchester City Women will now be able to train, prepare and recover in a truly special, purpose-built facility.

Covering 17,000 square feet, a world-class gym, strength & conditioning facilities and dressing room, the site will help players  to maximise performances on the pitch.

But given the facilities also received input from players and staff, inspiring added touches like social spaces and recognition for players with over 100 appearances, it is clear that this is a deeply personal project for all involved at Manchester City Women.

As Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, highlighted, the training centre is a symbol of excellence and ambition.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar,” O’Neill said via press release.

“It is about creating an environment here our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.”

A winning project, for a winning team. The training centre is sure to propel Manchester City Women to even greater heights in the seasons to come.

 

Continuing investment trends

Furthermore, as the result of an AUD 18.6 million (GBP 10 million) investment and purpose-built for Manchester City Women, it is yet another example of the current strength of WSL investment.

Just a few weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Albion unveiled plans to construct a new venue for its women’s team, delivering on a clear intention to support commercial growth and infrastructure in the women’s game.

But even after winning their first WSL title this season, the message from the board is clear: Manchester City Women are a fundamental part of the club’s long-term vision.

“This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole,” said Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.”

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