Thai sponsors Chang Beer strengthen ties with Everton FC in record £8m deal

Everton Football Club has announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Chang Beer that is the most lucrative in the club's history. Everton Chief Executive Keith Wyness and deputy CEO Robert Elstone were joined by Chang senior executives at a press conference in Bangkok to sign the new dea, which isl worth £8m over three years. The three-year deal will follow the existing shirt sponsorship arrangement, which runs out at the end of the current Premier League campaign. It marks the second time the Thailand based company has renewed its association with the Goodison club, but represents a 45% like-on-like increase on the previous deal (which earned Everton £4.5m) and, says the club, reflects the growing stature of Everton within the Premier League and on the world stage. The press conference, entitled Chang-Everton: A New Era of Co-operation, was held at the Plaza Athenee Hotel in Bangkok. Somchai Suttikulpanich of the Thai Beverage Marketing Company Limited, on behalf of Chang Beer, signed the contract along with Everton CEO Keith Wyness. Mr Wyness expressed delight at the new contract: "The scale of this new deal reflects Everton's success on and off the field in recent years and also represents Chang's faith in the Everton name. The strength and quality of our partnership, as shown by a nomination in the prestigious Hollis Sponsorship Awards in 2006, is of great value to us as a club. Indeed, the strong understanding we have forged with our friends at Chang is mutually beneficial and we will continue to work together to ensure we remain one of the Premier League's finest partnerships." Mr. Somchai said at the contract-signing ceremony: "The close co-operation between Thai Beverage Marketing Co Ltd and Everton FC in the past four years going on fifth year is the basis for the creation of a number of worthwhile projects beneficial to the Thai society as a whole and to the Thai football community in particular that has benefited from the transfer of technical knowledge and international football tactics. "In addition, Chang Beer and Everton have co-operated in worthwhile social contribution projects such as the donation to fund the construction of fifty houses for the 2004 tsunami victims and their families." Everton's Robert Elstone focussed on the successful business model that has made the partnership such a hit and which underlines why the new deal has been so well received by both parties: "Everton prides itself on working hard to deliver for all its partners", he said. "Chang is our most valued and long-standing partner and we are delighted to announce a second extension to our deal; an extension which reflects the hard-work and commitment put in on both sides of the partnership. The record-breaking deal reflects Everton's increasing stature within the domestic and European game and our determination to continue taking the Club forward as a business; ambitions that are shared by Chang. "Over the past four years we have established a rewarding working relationship with Chang but, more importantly, we have developed a great friendship based upon trust and respect. We are proud to have such great friends in Thailand and proud to be continuing our work with one of the most recognisable names in south-east Asia." The press conference also marked the launch of the Chang-Everton Football Academy, which will be located at the ThaiBev Football Centre in Thailand. Mr. Somchai added: "In the spirit of the 'New Era of Cooperation', Chang Beer and Everton have also agreed to set up the 'Chang-Everton Football Academy' at the current location of the ThaiBev Football Centre in Bangkok. Currently, there are already almost 500 youngsters aged from 4 to 18 in training this programme. Everton has agreed to send coaches and instructors in fields related to football to train Thai youths at least twice a year for a two-week duration each time. This project could become one of the most notable undertakings for the advancement of football in Thailand." Prior to the contract-signing ceremony, Mr Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, acting President of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, the parent company of Thai Beverage Marketing and the producer of Chang Beer, said: "ThaiBev, together with Everton, has the potential to become a major driving force to propel football in Thailand onto the successful international arena. This is the aim that both ThaiBev and Everton have in mind as a public service to the Thai society as a whole and most of all to the advancement of the Thai football community. And this is what this cooperation is all about."   E&OE