Hythe Town FC last week announced that it will be sponsored by digital currency company LIFElabs.io for the 2018/19 season.
In a national first, the Blockchain technology business will be the main sponsor for a non-league football club, which currently plays in the Bostik League South East.
LIFElabs’ sponsorship will allow Hythe Town FC to invest in new players and infrastructure for the upcoming season, as well as to continue its support for local charity partners. Hythe Town FC’s work in the local community, particularly through its youth and charity initiatives, was a deciding factor in this unique agreement: LIFElabs was founded to collaborate with global charities and philanthropic causes that make an essential difference to people’s lives around the world.
The support for Hythe Town FC is underpinned by LIFElabs’ unique set-up to give away billions of LIFEtokens to UK and global causes, as well as offering token holders the chance to give back to good causes and charities through the way they choose to pay.
Hythe Town FC’s substantial contribution to the local community includes providing storage facilities to Folkestone-based charity The Rainbow Centre, which delivers homeless and foodbank services to local people every week. At the same time, the football club provides regular coaching and training to 19 teams with in excess of 300 young players of both genders from local areas, under the umbrella of Hythe Town FC Youth.
Luke Chittock, CEO of LIFElabs.io, said: “Our sponsorship brings together great grass-roots organisations with a focus on giving back, strengthening our relationship with our community and supporting local people and businesses in Kent. It also underlines LIFElabs’ belief that sport is a fantastic route to helping the disadvantaged and showing that digital currencies like LIFEtoken can have a real impact on communities across the world.”
Martin Whybrow, long-standing volunteer at the club and local Kent County Councillor, commented: “For the last four years, Hythe Town FC has been delighted to provide its old clubhouse, free of charge, to The Rainbow Centre. This offers the organisation a secure, accessible and much-needed food store for its network of foodbanks across the district.
“The club also welcomes charitable collections at matches to further embed their efforts to support this local charity. These efforts will be complemented by Hythe Town FC’s environmental commitments, which next season will see the club aim to remove single-use plastics from catering facilities at the ground.”
Commenting on the announcement, John E Dowsett, Commercial Director and Vice President of Hythe Town FC, said: “LIFElabs’ and LIFEtoken’s sponsorship will reap benefits on and off the pitch as we pursue promotion and an extended run in the FA Cup and all other competitions. Most importantly, Hythe Town FC has always aimed to be more than just a sports club and help the local community in Hythe and Shepway – this deal will help us do just that.
“In addition to the immediate benefits of LIFElabs’ sponsorship, Hythe Town FC are looking forward to a long-term collaboration which will aid and support the development of a youth football academy. Not only will this move help to attract, develop, and retain quality youth players, but it will also enable us meet our joint goal of taking on core social responsibilities.”
The sponsorship deal is the latest of LIFElabs’ sporting investments, with European Tour professional golfer, Scott Jamieson to wear the digital currency company’s branding for the rest of the season inclusive of the upcoming British Open in Carnoustie, Scotland.
The new home and away kits with LIFEtoken and LIFElabs.io branding will be on show for the first time at Hythe Town FC’s first home pre-season friendly against Dover Athletic on 9th July, 7.45pm.