A new three-year partnership has been inked between the English Football League and eBay that will see communities represented in the EFL Championship, League One and League Two.
Beginning from the upcoming the 2021/22 season, ‘Small Businesses United’ will celebrate the businesses powering local communities around all 72 EFL clubs.
The partnership will see eBay donate advertising space at EFL grounds to the small businesses at the heart of their marketplace.
In an incredible show of the power of community, 85% of EFL clubs were supported by a small local business in the last year, despite the financial hardships of businesses during the pandemic.
EFL clubs were instrumental in their communities during the pandemic, having delivered over 1.4 million food parcels, more than 179,000 items of PPE, 22,000 prescriptions and donating over 2,100 laptops and tablets to people facing technology poverty. Club staff and their players have had in excess of 527,000 outgoing and incoming conversations with fans and vulnerable people.
Although the EFL lost £250m (471.1 AUD) when football went behind closed doors, the end of lockdown and Euros fever has seen a huge surge in interest in attending games.
‘Small Businesses United’ will allow eBay sellers to further connect with their local EFL clubs, and see their own brand under the bright stadium lights now that they’re back watching their team.
All EFL clubs and competitions will be involved in the initiative until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
EFL Chief Commercial Officer Ben Wright:
“The long-term relationship we have agreed with eBay is an exciting addition to the EFL portfolio of Official Partners and highlights how we want to support the local businesses who have in turn done so much to help our clubs.
“We are really pleased to be able to support growing businesses through all 72 EFL clubs and the ‘Small Businesses United’ initiative. It is a fantastic opportunity for supporters of our Clubs to see their own businesses advertised in EFL stadia nationwide, and demonstrates again how the EFL can support positive and impactful local community activation on a national scale.”
SVP & Head of eBay Europe Rob Hattrell:
“eBay UK and the EFL know that local business and football clubs are the backbone of our communities, sharing a history of mutual support that we’re so excited to celebrate with Small Businesses United.
“After the financial trials of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for eBay to continue to shine a spotlight on the power of small business, and to champion the sport we know and love.
“The excitement surrounding English football is at a real high this year, and we’re seeing that replicated on eBay with huge demand for the equipment needed for the grassroots game. That’s why we’ll be looking to extend our support beyond the professional clubs, to further boost local communities – all thanks to the power of eBay’s 300,000 small business sellers.”
