Crawley Town lands Sun sponsorship for FA Cup tie against Manchester United
Non-league Crawley Town has revealed a new sponsor, with News International redtop The Sun set to have its logo emblazoned across the club’s shirts for its game against Manchester United on Saturday.
The club’s usual sponsor, property specialists Alamo international, will have its logo relegated to the back of the shirt.
The game at Old Trafford is to be televised on ITV1 meaning maximum media exposure for both parties – The Sun gets its logo on live TV while Crawley gets coverage in the paper.
No non-league club has ever got further in the FA Cup than Crawley, a fact that has not escaped energy company and FA Cup sponsor E.ON who is also getting in on the action. The gas and electricity provider has pledged £200 to Help for Heroes for every minute that the club holds its Premiership opponents at bay.
E.ON has guaranteed a minimum donation of £10k, and £18k if Crawley manages either a draw or a win.
Crawley, without a regular shirt supplier, has not been able to cash in on sales of replica kit so far this season, but replicas of the commemorative shirts have been selling out at the club's tiny Broadfield Stadium.
Manager Steve Evans told The Sun: "This is definitely going to be the biggest game of our lives.
"We're going to the biggest club in the world and taking on the greatest manager in the world - with the best newspaper in the world."