CARLING.. KERCHING; NEW SPONSOR FOR IRISH LEAGUE.Byline: DARREN FULLERTON IFA PRESIDENT Raymond Kennedy has hailed Carling's decision to sponsor the Irish League Premiership as a "massive boost" for the local game. Carling car·ling n. One of the short timbers running fore and aft that connect the transverse beams supporting the deck of a ship. [Middle English, from Old French calingue and from Old Norse will pump in the region of pounds 250,000 into Northern Ireland's top flight over the course of the next three years - the largest level of investment in the league's history. IFA chief Kennedy, who attended yesterday's announcement at the Crown Bar in Belfast, welcomed the deal as a "very significant investment" from the well known beer brand. "It is a wonderful boost for the Irish League to have Carling on board - a company with a fantastic football pedigree pedigree Record of ancestry or purity of breed. Pedigrees of domesticated animals are maintained by governmental or private record associations or breed organizations in many countries. ," he said. "Carling is a major UK brand that is synonymous with synonymous with adjective equivalent to, the same as, identical to, similar to, identified with, equal to, tantamount to, interchangeable with, one and the same as sport on the mainland, so we are delighted with this deal and partnership." As well as a guaranteed pounds 80,000 per year of the three-year deal, Carling will also commit significant additional marketing support aimed at broadening interest in local football. "That's an important part of the deal," said Kennedy. "To have Carling involved in marketing and so on is terrific. They bring a lot of expertise to the table. "Irish League attendances witnessed a 13 per cent increase last season, which was a positive, and our aim now is to build on that. "I believe we have a good product in the Irish League - especially with the new 12-team league - and Carling's involvement is another major boost." Carling official Niall Phelan said sponsoring the Irish League represents an "important milestone in the history" of the company's association with football. "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to sponsor Northern Ireland's top division and work closely with the IFA," he said. "Our sales and market share have been growing year-on-year in Northern ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. and we believe sponsorship will bring us closer to the fans and to the local game." Sky Sports will broadcast five Carling Premiership games this season, starting with Cliftonville against Linfield at Solitude on Monday, September 21. Hugh Wade Hugh Wade was Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1959 to 1966. • • [ , vice-chairman of the IFA Premiership, said: "The new 12-team league has been a great success and Carling's sponsorship is great news for football in Northern Ireland." CAPTION(S): CHEERS CARLING girls Catherine and Hannah at the Crown Bar yesterday |
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