Line of Duty star to sponsor Southern League club

Line of Duty star Vicky McClure is to sponsor a Southern League club – a huge boost as, like so many, have struggled through the pandemic.

She and her talksSPORT presenter fiance Jonny Owen production company BYO Films will feature on Merthyr Town’s shorts for the upcoming 2021-22 season as part of the deal, which was announced on Thursday morning.

Owen is also an actor, filmmaker, and has strong ties to the club, having grown up on the Valleys town, while McClure is best known for her role as Kate Fleming in BBC’s Line of Duty and as Lol Jenkins in the film This is England.

The move means a huge amount to the club, who were forced to abandon the 2020-21 season due to the effects of coronavirus restrictions.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Merthyr Town Football Club are delighted to have secured an exciting new partnership deal ahead of the 2021/22 Southern League Premier South season.

Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure and her fiancée, Filmmaker, Times columnist and TalkSPORT presenter Jonny Owen are the new sponsors of Merthyr Town FC’s shorts for the coming season.

The couples Production Company ‘BYO Films’ will have pride of place on the Martyrs home, away and third kit shorts for the 2021/22 season.

The couple have strong ties to the Welsh club with Jonny having grown up in the Valleys town.

Speaking on the deal, they said: “We are delighted to have the name of our new production company on the Merthyr players shorts. We both love the town and are passionate supporters of grass roots football. We wish the manager and the team every success this season and look forward to coming down when we can to cheer on the Martyrs”.

The club added: “It is huge for us to get such high-profile supporters sponsoring the club. Vicky is one of most loved actors in the country and Jonny is a hugely respected figure in the game. He is a Merthyr boy who has never forgotten his roots. He grew up as a fan with a strong family connection to the club and he’s also helped us with several new sponsors for this coming season and we are hugely grateful to him for that. His Fiancée Vicky McClure has been to Penydarren Park and we can’t wait to welcome them both when they come and see us.”

SEASON BY SEASON

2010–11 Western League Division One – Level 10 – PLD 36 – W29 – D3 – L4 –  F118 – A33 – GD85 – PTS 90 – 1/22 pos
2011–12 Western League Premier Division – Level 9 – PLD 34 – W22 – D9 – L3 –  F96 – A32 – GD64 – PTS 75 – 1/22 pos
2012–13 Southern League Division One South & West – Level 8 – PLD 42 – W24 – D11 – L7 –  F84 – A38 – GD46 – PTS 83 – 3/22 pos
2013–14 Southern League Division One South & West – Level 8 – PLD 42 – W28 – D5 – L9 –  F111 – A58 – GD53 – PTS 89 – 2/22 pos
2014–15 Southern League Division One South & West – Level 8 – PLD 42 – W32 – D6 – L4 –  F122 – A34 – GD88 – PTS 102 – 1/22 pos
2015–16 Southern League Premier Division – Level 7 – PLD 46 – W19 – D9 1- L8 –  F69 – A58 – GD11 PTS 66 – 10/22 pos
2016–17 Southern League Premier Division –  Level 7 – PLD 46 – W25 – D14 – L7 – F92 – A49 – GD43 – PTS 89 – 3/22 pos
2017–18 Southern League Premier Division – Level 7 – PLD 46 – W13 – D14 – L19 –  F76 – A98 – GD22 – PTS 33 17/22 pos
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division South – Level 7 – PLD 42 – W15 – D9 – L18 –  F68 – A67 – GD1 – PTS 54 – 13/22 pos
2019–20 Southern League Premier Division South – Level 7 – PLD 10 – W4 – D1 – L5 –  F12 – A12 – GD0 – PTS 13 – 10/22 pos

🤝 Merthyr Town Football Club are delighted to have secured an exciting new partnership deal.

Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure and her fiancée, Filmmaker, Times columnist and TalkSPORT presenter Jonny Owen are new sponsors of Merthyr Town FC…

Jonny Owen x @Vicky_McClure

— The Martyrs (@MerthyrTownFC) June 3, 2021

Fans reacted after seeing that the Line of Duty star is to sponsor the Southern League club, see what was tweeted…

@clarkeey08: Great news 👏👏👏. Welcome aboard guys 👌👌👌

@dannymoon2014: Mother of god 🧐

@Easley91: Looking for bent referees now..?

@mrlouismoore: Let’s be fair, we are massive. UPPA AC-12 MARTYRS!

@PaulDon17980086: Great news welcome to Merthyr Town fc Vicky and Jonny.

@mrichardshost: things you love to see

@thehuwdavies: I was not aware of this power couple being a thing

@Sam_Stewart15: Wonder if he’ll start trying to pick their team too

@oliviacoImans: if vicky actually ends up in my town, i will pass away

@di1cox: I do really, really like this and I really, really like Merthyr Town. A lovely club.

@Adam_Webster96: Does he want to be CEO there to?

@martyrjo: Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey this is brilliant news!

@ffwtbol: Good on them. 👏

@RyanBrown12345: Surely this is going to help fund @GarethBale11

@AlunJeremiah: Great news !

@TDFent: Lovely gesture

@banterbri: Welcome to the mighty martyrs

@RichieRJ: Mother of god

@alunjp77: Quality news, great to have good news around the town…

Definitely an undercover operation. Merthyr must have bent coppers at the club pic.twitter.com/pcPYHt3nSh

— Nathan (@Nathan94Matthew) June 3, 2021