7th tier club ‘gutted’ as the FA forbids Marvel superhero kit sponsorship

7th tier club Radcliffe have been left ‘gutted’ as the FA forbids their much anticipated Marvel superhero kit sponsorship.

The Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit initially hoped it had secured a sponsorship deal with the world famous Marvel Entertainment brand, however the Football Association had other ideas.

According to The Times, Radcliffe thought that the deal, secured through kit sponsor Admiral Sportwear, could have transformed the fortunes of the club.

As you can see above, this could have seen famous Marvel superheroes like Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk emblazoned onto the club’s goalkeeper’s shirt, however the FA ruled that this would breach advertising regulations and the deal fell through.

It’s not all doom and gloom however with the shirt (middle) is currently smashing it in terms of sales all over the world. You can buy it HERE.

Speaking to The Times, Radcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton said: “We were absolutely gutted, there is no other word to describe it.

“We had the opportunity to do so much good, so much interesting work in and around the community, and more widely as well.”

Radcliffe are currently sponsored by Admiral Sportswear, a company that has made kits for many English teams in the past but now mainly supplies American soccer teams.

They also manufacture a selection of Marvel teamwear and the non league club was told, via Admiral, that its players could have Marvel kits, which would become a first in the UK.

The company had also stated that Radcliffe could sell replica shirts and they hoped to bring the designs to the club’s junior side as well.

Hilton argues that the garments had a Marvel logo in the right size and location under guidelines set out by the FA.

He said: “The shirts were designed like the bodies of superheroes and did not show the characters in full or feature their names.”

But the Football Association ruled that the entire shirt constituted an advertisement, with Mr Hilton unable to change their minds.

In a statement, the FA said: “The FA’s kit and advertising regulations apply to every club at all levels of English football and regulate what may appear on playing kit and items worn in the technical area during matches, including club, sponsor and clothing manufacturer logos.

“However, these regulations do not cover shirts sold by clubs for retail purposes or promotional work, meaning clubs are free to use different shirts for other purposes should they wish.”

Radcliffe play their games at Stainton Park, the current home also for Bury AFC. The club was formed on the 24th of May 1949. Radcliffe won the division in 1996–97, won the playoffs twice in 2003 and 2019 and reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in its history in 2000. The club changed its name to Radcliffe Football Club for the 2018–19 season.

They currently sit 18th in the standings, taking 9 points from 10 games played, and with promotions ruled out for that last few campaigns, the battle for promotion will be even tougher this time around, South Shields currently leading the way, with Matlock Town and Whitby Town following close by.

A month ago, WWE announced an unexpected partnership with another non league team in Enfield Town.

The global wrestling juggernaut entertainment company has revealed its UK-based brand is linking up with fan owned Enfield Town as boss Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque opened up about the surprising turn of events.

The deal will see WWE brand ‘NXT UK’ sponsor the club, with the brand’s logo being worn on the front of both the first team’s home shirt, and the women’s reserve team’s home shirt.

CLUB STATEMENT:

We are delighted to announce an extremely exciting new sponsorship deal with WWE for the 2021-22 season!

For decades, WWE has been the byword for professional wrestling entertainment worldwide, and its United Kingdom-based arm, NXT UK, has gone from strength to strength since its launch. With WWE’s British Performance Center opening locally in 2019, it established Enfield as a base for wrestling entertainment in the UK.

Our match shirts for the 21-22 season will officially bear the NXT UK® crest, starting with our first home league match of the season against Brightlingsea Regent this Saturday, 21st August 2021.

Shirts are on sale here: https://shop.etfc.london/product/special-edition-20th-anniversary-commemorative-shirt-adults