A statement from the Club on the Ladies football club
Huddersfield Town has today chosen to end its loose affiliation with the Town Ladies club.
In an informal agreement pre-dating the ‘New Era’, made under the previous ownership, Huddersfield Town formed a loose affiliation with the local ladies football team.
The previous Huddersfield Town Board allowed them to use the intellectual, trademarked property of the Club – the name ‘Huddersfield Town’ in conjunction with the ‘Ladies’ name and the Club Crest – free of charge; an agreement the current Board has continued to honour on a discretionary basis over the last six years.
In keeping with that arrangement, HTAFC recently offered the use of the state-of-the-art PPG Canalside complex, provided free tickets to home games each season and provided the Ladies with other support such as discounted kit through the Club’s kit deals and PR.
However, this summer following a request to the Club for direct financial support, Town were unable to provide what the Ladies required. After correspondence with the Ladies, the Club has now decided to bring arrangement to an end. The Club has allowed a transition period of 12 months for further use of the logo and name.
Huddersfield Town’s Board of Directors commented:
“During the ‘New Era’ of Huddersfield Town, the Club has enjoyed an ongoing but arms-length arrangement with the ladies team. They are fully independent organisation but have used our logo and name by agreement to promote their club. This has led to a perception of far close relations. We have provided non-financial support to them where we can, alongside our work with other local clubs and community groups.
“We are delighted that ladies football is growing across the country and we have been pleased to play even a very small part in that during the New-Era.
“We have 40 official partnerships with local football clubs and play our part to help grassroots where we can. We understand the financial pressure faced by clubs in the National game whether or not its girls or boys football. Our Club Partnership has seen £350 handed back to local clubs. Our 80 partnerships with schools and our work through Football in the Community football reach out to thousands of girls and boys across the local area.
“However, it is clear that we as a Club are unable to meet the demands of their organisation any longer or its approach to the relationship with the Club. As a Board, after difficult deliberation, we unanimously we felt it was in all parties’ interests to part with immediate effect, which we informed the ladies club about today.
“Every supporter will understand the importance Huddersfield Town places on its links with the community and will understand this is not a decision that we have taken lightly. We will continue to support Ladies’ football and we are already planning a major flagship tournament for girls at PPG Canalside for the autumn”
“As a gesture of goodwill, we will allow the Ladies team to continue to carry the Club’s name and use the crest for the upcoming 2014/15 season only.
“We wish the Ladies every success for the future.”
