Consulting firm renews shirt sponsor deal with West Ham United
West Ham United FC Women has extended its partnership with boutique advisory firm Vision Consulting. The news see the club and consultancy extend a relationship first forged in early 2020.
Despite having been formed in 1991, West Ham United FC Women only successfully gained entry into the top flight of English women’s football in 2018. The following two seasons have seen the Hammers establish themselves as a stable mid-table side.
Commenting on the sponsorship deal, the club’s Managing Director Jack Sullivan – son of club owner David Sullivan – said, “Vision Consulting have been a great partner to the women’s team over the past 12 months and we’re proud to have agreed to extend the partnership into 2021.”
Vision Consulting is a boutique audit and advisory firm, which works to service the business needs of clients around the world. Vision Consulting has offices in the City of London, Mayfair and Ilford – but shares its roots in east London, alongside the Hammers. Managing Director Alahi was even brought up in the area.
Sullivan: “Vision Consulting's Managing Director Ghulam Alahi shares in our vision of pushing women’s football forward and we’re thrilled that we will continue to work together.”
Alahi remarked, “I am really thrilled that we have extended our partnership into 2021. After an exhilarating and challenging year in 2020, we really look forward to following West Ham on their journey in 2021.
Vision’s initial partnership with the famous football club in 2020 coincided with the recent launch of BAME Hammers, an official independent West Ham United supporters group that gives a collective voice to all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic fans. The firm has subsequently worked closely with the club to support its aim of seeing more BAME representation across all levels of football.
“As one of the Vice-Presidents of the West Ham United women's team I am delighted to be representative of the BAME community and look to continue to encourage fellow members of the Asian community to pursue careers in football and to support the game,” said Alahi.
In recent years, consulting firms have played an important role in the commercial development of women’s football – both in England and overseas. In 2019, for example, software engineering consultancy YLD became a first-ever principal partner to Reading FC Women.
Meanwhile in Australia, late 2020 saw Seven Consulting renew its sponsorship agreement with the Australian women's national soccer team, having partnered the Matildas since 2017.
