AFCB players Lucy Cooper (left) and Elle ElkinsBournemouth University (BU) and AFC Bournemouth have announced the renewal of their partnership for a further two-years for the benefit of students, staff, supporters and the local community.
The two organisations have been long-term partners, with the latest agreement stretching their official relationship into its 13th year. The university is the official higher education partner of AFC Bournemouth.
BU will continue to be a principal partner and the official front-of-shirt sponsor of the women’s and girls’ teams, while AFC Bournemouth will continue to promote BU throughout the Vitality Stadium on matchdays.
In an exciting new agreement, women’s shirts will this season be available in the club Superstore for the first time, as supporters are able to buy the BU-branded top in adult sizing.
BU students will continue to be at the heart of the agreement, with further opportunities to engage with the Club. Journalism students work alongside media on matchdays to get vital experience in sports journalism, while the Club offers opportunities to work in various roles across the organisation. For the first time this season, AFC Bournemouth will sponsor two students for the next two years as part of BU’s studentship programme. This will offer vital financial and mentoring support to students.
Two Cherries first team players – Abby Jones and Katie Scadding – will continue in their roles coaching the BU women’s football team.
Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer at Bournemouth University, said: “I am so proud of all that our partnership has achieved across many years, and the number of young people and students who have benefitted through our co-working. It is so important for us to partner with local organisations to work for the benefit of our community and I am delighted that this agreement will see us continue to do so for the next two years as we continue to cheer on AFC Bournemouth’s teams across all levels in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons”.
Rob Mitchell, Commercial Director at AFC Bournemouth, also commented: “We are incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic institution like BU on our doorstep and we’ve really benefitted from the partnership over the years. I look forward to strengthening that relationship even further and working closely together again in a deal that will continue to aid the local community.”
Each season, the partnership is celebrated through the BU Big Match – one match in the men’s and women’s calendars designated to showcase the partnership to supporters. This season’s men’s Big Match will take place against Liverpool in February 2025, with the women’s BU Big match confirmed at a later date.
Support will continue for the Junior Cherries as a part of the partnership, with BU providing free Junior Cherries passes to girls signed up to play for AFC Bournemouth’s junior teams, and events will be co-delivered to provide education opportunities for Junior Cherries.
Men’s and women’s first team players engage with staff and students as a part of the partnership. Last season, Ryan Christie, Marcos Senesi and Gemma McGuinness attended an event at Bournemouth University to welcome new international students to the region and give some tips on settling into life on the south coast.
