By Mark Baber
October 1 – The finalists for the UK’s 2013 Football Business Awards have been announced, throwing up a few surprises including the shortlisting of Newcastle Utd and Wonga for Sponsorship Deal/Partnership of the Year. Perhaps less surprisingly the award ceremony will be hosted by alternative comedienne, Jo Brand.
The Football Business Awards are now in their second year and the shortlists in each category have been chosen from among the entrants with a panel of judges, which includes club CEOs, chairmen and English football business luminaries including as Richard Bevan, Karren Brady, Bob Wilson and David Sheepshanks, to decide the winners.
Last year’s winners included The Continental Group for Best Business Serving Football and Everton Football Club for their community programme.
David Sheepshanks, Chairman of St George’s Park, said: “These Football Business Awards are so important to the industry and the recognition that they bring to the leading operators in their various fields is invaluable. It is not only the many, diverse elements that comprise the business of Football that make it so compelling but also the constant need to adapt and change, to embrace the continual advances in sports science and technology that keep it so vibrant”
Finalists this year include Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, EA Sports, Budweiser, FIFA and the FA, with the awards ceremony to be held at Chelsea on 7th November.
Full list of 2013 Finalists:
Best UK Club Marketing Campaign
• Aston Villa Football Club
• Everton Football Club
• Manchester United Football Club
• QPR Football Club
• WBA Football Club
Best Business Serving Football – up to £2m turnover
• Green Star Media
• London Football Association Ltd
• Matchsaver Limited
• PureNet
• Twentyfour7 Football Magazine
Best Business Serving Football – over £2m turnover
• Designwerk
• Opta
• Rippleffect
• St. George’s Park
• StreamUK
• The FA Group
Best use of Social Media in Football
• Aston Villa Football Club
• Budweiser
• EA SPORTS
• Manchester United Football Club
• Opta
• Royal Belgian Football Association
Best Football Club Hospitality
• Cardiff City Football Club
• Chelsea Football Club
• Everton Football Club
• Manchester City Football Club
• Manchester United Football Club
Best/Most Innovative use of Technology by Football Clubs
• Arsenal Football Club
• Aston Villa Football Club
• Birmingham City Football Club
• QPR Football Club
• WBA Football Club
Best/Most Innovative use of Technology in Football
• Collstream
• Huggity
• OptaPro
• Social Pundit
• Sports Session Planner
• Teamer
• Wyscout
Best Football Community Scheme
• Albion in the Community (Brighton & Hove Albion’s charity)
• Continental Tyres
• Everton in the Community
• Foundation of Light
• Fulham FC Foundation
• Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme
• Sport Esprit Academy
• West Ham United Community Sports Trust
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme
• Albion in the Community
• Aston Villa Football Club
• Budweiser and The FA
• Cardiff City Football Club
• Freestyle Football Federation
• Liverpool Football Club
• West Ham United Community Sports Trust
Best Non-match Day use of Venue
• Anfield Stadium Liverpool
• Arsenal Football Club – Emirates Stadium
• Chelsea Football Club
• Wembley Stadium
Football Brand of the Year
• Budweiser
• Continental Tyres
• FIFA Interactive World Cup
• Opta
• St. George’s Park
Best Professional Service Business Serving Football
• Bluefin Sport
• Garners Food Service Equipment
• Pinsent Masons
• Sport Value Credit Management
• Walker Morris LLP
Sponsorship Deal / Partnership of the Year
• Budweiser / The FA Cup
• Elite Soccer – Green Star Media / League Managers Association
• Millwall Football Club / Prostate Cancer UK
• Peter’s Food Service Ltd / Cardiff Football Club
• Wonga.com / Newcastle United FC
Football Business Writer of the Year
• Ashling O’Connor
• Bill Wilson
• Keir Radnedge
• Nick Harris
Innovation Award
• Cardiff City Football Club
• Forest Green Rovers/Ecotricity
• Major League Soccer
• Mask-arade
• St. George’s Park
• Teamer
• We R Interactive
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734845423labto1734845423ofdlr1734845423owedi1734845423sni@r1734845423ebab.1734845423kram1734845423