A brand new set of awards has launched to recognise excellence and effectiveness in the business of football. The Football Business Awards will be held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in November this year and are designed to recognise the essential role that business plays in football, the positive impact of football on the community and vital role played by the businesses which serve the game. The awards are open to clubs and to any business connected to football.
The high-profile panel of judges comes from a wide range of football, business and media environments include Chelsea FC, Chairman Bruce Buck, Vauxhall Head of Sponsorship Chris Hornbuckle, Lawson Muncaster, Managing Director of City AM, Nick Harford Head of Partnerships at EA Sport and FCbusiness’ Editor Ryan McKnight.
The award categories cover a broad range of football business and commercial issues from Commercial team of the Year to Best Community Scheme, Best Professional Business Serving Football to Most Innovative Use of Technology, retail operations, community schemes and catering are also covered. In several categories there are separate awards for Premier and Football League entrants.
Chairman of the judges Bruce Buck said, “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to be hosting the inaugural Football Business Awards at Stamford Bridge and I am proud to be chairing the judging panel. As anybody who works in the football industry will testify, there is a huge amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes at clubs to support the efforts of the players on the pitch; I know that from personal experience here at Chelsea. In my opinion, these awards are extremely important, and long overdue, in giving recognition to those who have excelled in the wide array of businesses involved in the football industry.”
Simon Burton, one of the team behind the Football Business Awards commented, “It’s timely to recognize and acknowledge the excellent commercial endeavour that goes on behind the scenes in football, both within the clubs themselves and as importantly, those thousands of businesses which serve football. Football clubs make a hugely positive impact on their communities and on the businesses which work with them. These awards celebrate that impact.”
