http://mobile.saintsfc.co.uk/runtime...icleId=2318377 New Sponsor Announced on Mobile Site... Local firm aap3.... From SaintsMobile site: Saints are delighted to announce that aap3, the Southampton based business and IT solutions provider, have today signed a three year deal to become the Main Club Sponsor of Southampton Football Club. In addition to appearing on the front of both the home and away first team shirt, the deal will also see the aap3 logo and branding take pride of place at St Mary's Stadium, as well as on the Club's official website, match programme with a host of other benefits included within the sponsorship. aap3 (All About People Process & Productivity) are a company founded in Southampton more than ten years ago. With a headquarters in Chilworth and offices in London and San Jose California they employ more than 500 people globally, whilst still maintaining a keen focus on working within the local Southampton community. The strong aspirations that aap3 have to become a market leader in their field perfectly match the direction that Southampton FC is now taking, not only in terms of its ambition to grow as a club with the right results on the field, but also its positive influence in the local community it serves. Over the last 18 months aap3 has been a keen supporter of the Saints Foundation, investing its charitable funds, having their employees volunteer with several of the Foundation programmes, and using intellectual software development resources to develop the Foundation's website. The partnership will start from the beginning of the 2011-12 season and run until June 2014. Southampton Football Club's Executive Chairman, Nicola Cortese said: I have been extremely impressed by the level of interest we received from national and international brands who were all keen to sponsor the club. Such interest just goes to show that the Club is heading in the right direction and is beginning to be recognised as an attractive business to invest in. Any sponsorship deal needs to represent good value to the club, but of equal importance are the principles of the company, which is why it gives me great pleasure to have secured this deal with aap3. Like us, they are an upwardly mobile company who strongly believe in their business ethics. They are a very successful global company with strong local roots, and a conscious understanding of the role they have to play in the local community. Choosing a headline sponsor for the Club is no easy task, we need to be able to work side by side and trust in each other, and therefore it was important for us to find the right match when picking a partner. I am convinced that aap3 are that company and their commitment to the Club over the next three years will, I am sure, coincide with an exciting period for both of us. Rod Jackson, President and CEO of aap3 concluded: Southampton Football Club is ambitious, well run and socially aware of its responsibilities as a football club and a corner stone of the community. aap3 is also ambitious, I believe well run, with a team of professional players and definitely socially aware of its responsibilities. Ultimately, we strongly believe in the vision of where this club is heading, and felt that being involved with such a project was too good an opportunity to miss out on. It is for these reasons, and of course to improve our own brand recognition as Saints grow ever more successful on the field that we have taken on this sponsorship opportunity. The Directors, Executive staff and employees of aap3 look forward to the 2011/12 season when the aap3 logo will adorn the Southampton shirts, and hope our sponsorship will bring many entertaining and successful wins to the team. Thoughts? DTLW
Indifferent to be honest, I am against sponsorship on shirts full stop, but it is nice that it is a locally formed company. The logo will not look too bad on the shirts, at least it should not detract too much from whatever the shirt design is.
At first sight the logo doesn't look all that impressive but it won't detract from the red and white stripes so maybe that is not a bad thing. On the OS http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2318377,00.html
As sponsors go, they seem pretty good. Southampton-based and been supporting the foundation, so I think it sends out a good impression that we might not have just gone for money (though we almost certainly have!).
Yeah the guy in photo 2 doesn't look like Cortese?! Majorly airbrushed and photoshopped, also look at the shirt being held up! It isn't really there!!! It's photo-shopped it seems! However the guy who was in the Northam the other week does look like the 'Cortese' in Picture 2...
in my opinion, unless we have a flybe esque white band on the front of our shirts, the logo wont be able to fit in with red and white stripes, as the logo is all red. it suggests to me that next years home kit wont be red and white stripes. hopefully im wrong because i think it would be a slight disgrace not to return the historic red and white stripes. However on the logo, I think it looks good, and to me looks slightly like a smiley face and the name ' aap3 ' could relate to appy = happy, clutching at straws but still!
maybe DTLW but id really like to see red and white stripes, or the predominant colour being red, maybe a new design would be fresh but predominantly white doesnt work anymore for me, nice for one anniversary season but not a permanent feature for me. however I do think that white with red sash and thinner black sash underneath would look nice, with black shorts and socks, much like sao paolo! what would you like to see..
Must say NC I must applaude... choose a LOCAL COMPANY for our club, good move. Next question: Are going to see the stripes back tho???
Yeah agree good to choose local company for the Saints. Would love to see the red & white stripes back. Got confused at Exeter away when they were the ones in the stripes not us. Lets hope this happens
I'm sure the kit will be like the one from 1980-85 (type saints kit 1980 into google images and its the 3rd image if you don't know) White with two red stripes down the side is the only way a red sponsor logo will be seen. Didn't like the choice at first but definitely growing on me...
