The English Football League (EFL) Championship, Blackburn Rovers Football Club have secured a landmark partnership with the Lancashire law firm, Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors, making it the club’s biggest shirt sponsorship deal since 2012.
This new chapter has strengthened the law firm’s longstanding commitment to the Rovers. The firm’s logo will be prominently displayed on the front of the men’s and U21 teams’ shirts for the upcoming 2024-25 season, having previously held the back-of-shirt sponsorship since 2018. The law company’s continued support extends to the women’s team, where its logo will remain on the back of the shirts.
Elton Ashworth, Managing Director of Watson Ramsbottom, is thrilled about the extended six-year partnership, “The growth of Watson Ramsbottom over the last seven or eight years has been fantastic and it’s obviously put us in the position where we’re able to do something like this for the community and the club, which has been so important for not just me but for many, many of our staff across our offices.
“We’re now employing 240 people around the East Lancashire area and a massive chunk of them are Rovers fans, so there’s massive excitement for all of us.
“It’s a local practice and out of that number of employees, 200 of them are probably from the Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Clitheroe area.
“It’s a massive step because it coincides with two big parts of my life and this is the year to do it 30 years on from that fantastic season. We’re hugely proud that Watson Ramsbottom is now in a position to do something on this scale.
“For me and the brand building of the business, it’s great. You’re not just getting the local audience with everyone wearing the shirts, but you’re getting exposure all over the country when Rovers play away from home in different regions.
“I’ve been a Rovers fan all my life, since my grandad started taking me when I was about seven,” he added, reflecting on his long history as a supporter of the club which dates back to going to Ewood for the first time in 1979 with grandfather, Alan.
“I worked at Rovers in the catering department for a few years in the function suites, looking after some of the directors, a couple of whom are still around now.
“I’ve gone from being one of the waiters in there to the front of shirt partner, so it’s been quite a journey.
“It’s been a big part of my life and it’s part of my children’s lives because they’ve not really had any choice! They go to all the games, they’re all as indoctrinated as I am because they’ve not had a choice!
“My grandad would be so proud because he loved every minute of being at Ewood and he’d be over the moon to see the business on the front of the shirt.”
Rovers CEO Steve Waggott, added, “We’re delighted Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors have agreed to be our front of shirt partner for the 2024-25 season.
“Watson Ramsbottom are tremendous supporters of the club, and have been so for a number of years, after first becoming our back of shirt sponsor in 2018.
“We’re really pleased to once again be partnering with an organisation embedded within our community as we prepare to celebrate our 30-year anniversary of winning the Premier League.
“It’s extremely important we continue to work closely and have strong relationships with local businesses and this new agreement further signifies our commitment as a club to this.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Elton Ashworth and his team for their continued commitment and support for Blackburn Rovers, and we’re looking to working closely with them for a sixth consecutive season.”
Yasir Sufi, Head of Commercial and Partnership, said, “We would like to thank Totally Wicked for all their support over the years.
“It’s great to see another local company, who are long-term supporters of the club, as our front-of-shirt partners for the 24-25 season.
“It’s amazing to see the journey Elton has been on, from a six-year-old on the terraces with his grandad to working at the club in our hospitality lounges, and now his business is on the front of the Blackburn Rovers shirt.
“It just shows what can be achieved with hard work and skill and, like Totally Wicked, is another great success story for our town.”
Watson Ramsbottom is a well-established law firm in Lancashire, England. The firm boasts a presence across multiple locations including Blackburn, Accrington, and Darwen. The team consists of SRA-regulated solicitors with expertise in various legal areas such as family law, residential property, and debt recovery.
The EFL Championship season kicks off on August 10 with the Riversiders facing Derby County in the opening match at 12:30 AM IST.