By Paul Nicholson
October 28 – Non-league Biggleswade United, plying their trade in the 9th tier of the English league, have become a big hit on Twitter, adding 40,000 twitter followers in just three days due to their partnership with online football game giant Top Eleven.
That makes Biggleswade United the 50th most followed English club on Twitter.
To put that in perspective, they now have more followers than every League two side bar Portsmouth, more followers than all but seven League one sides, and more than a couple of Championship sides (Rotherham and Preston). Astounding for a club in the Spartan South Midlands Premier.
Back in August, Biggleswade signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Top Eleven, the online sports game, who recently made Biggleswade United jerseys available to their millions of players across the globe (for in game use), and encouraged them to support the real life club as well – catapulting little Biggleswade United on to the world stage.
Since mid-day on Thursday, Biggleswade United’s Twitter followers have gone from 3,000 to 42.5k, making them the 50th most followed English club.
In terms of weekly growth, only Manchester United match that week-to-week (see http://bit.ly/1ihKrjZ).
The shirt sponsorship deal signed in August with Top Eleven has been a game changer across the board for the Bedfordshire team.
The club, led by Chairman Chris Lewis and Director of Football Guillem Balague (better known as a Spanish football journalist and broadcaster), has set out to change grassroots football by harnessing the power of the game to inspire their local community.
The partnership with Top Eleven has given the club exposure to 120 million players of the game around the world.
Guillem Balague, said at the time of the sponsorship signing: “At Biggleswade, we have always believed that grassroots is the cradle of football that if nurtured can grow, develop and flourish not just in footballing terms but for the greater good of the whole community.
“This much welcomed partnership between us and Top Eleven is proof positive that they share our vision and their backing, and the confidence they have shown in us will provide the boost and inspiration we need to help us move forward and achieve our dreams.
“To say I am proud doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings.”
Twitter rankings by total followers, positions 38-50
38. Bolton, 81.5k, Championship
39. Portsmouth, 67.5k, League Two
40. Blackpool, 66.7k, League One
41. Ipswich Town, 58.9k, Championship
42. Charlton, 58.4k, Championship
43. Bristol City, 58.1k, Championship
44. Coventry City, 57.1k, League One
45. Millwall, 52.3k, League One
46. Huddersfield, 47k, Championship
47. Bradford City, 46.1k, League One
48. Brentford, 45.2k, Championship
49. MK Dons, 43.9k, Championship
50. Biggleswade United, 42.5k ,Spartan South Midlands Premier
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