A local LGBT and non-league football club in the West Midlands has been featured in a new national advertising campaign from Carling, called ‘Made Local’.
Made Local is a campaign all about championing and supporting people who are making a positive impact in their hometown – just like Carling, proudly brewed by local people in its historic home of Burton-on-Trent.
The stars of this particular spot are LGBT and non-league football team Black Country Fusion FC. The ad aired last week and featured across multiple channels nationwide, including TV, VOD, Social and even cinemas.
Skye Stewart, chairwoman of Black Country Fusion FC, set up the football club in 2016 because there were no other LGBT+ football teams that played in Sunday league – making Fusion the first LGBT+ club in the Midlands. Skye’s story inspired Carling to help support the team through its Made Local fund, produce a documentary on the club and include them in its new advertising campaign.
As part of the new campaign, Carling has also committed to a multi-million-pound investment into its Made Local Fund over the next three years to support important community projects – just like Black Country Fusion FC – that help local culture, community spirit and enterprise thrive up and down the country.
Carling have provided all four of Black Country Fusion FC’s teams with new home and away kits for the 2018/19 season as part of the launch of the Made Local Fund last year, with the aim to help the club raise awareness in the local community, grow their fanbase and recruit new players.
Skye Stewart commented: “Black Country Fusion FC was built on the values of inclusiveness and we welcome anyone from any background to join. We are proud to be working with Carling this season to tell our story and continue raising our profile. We’re having a great season on the pitch, sitting in the top half of the table. We hope the local community appreciate our new kits and continue coming down to show their support for the team.”
Miranda Osborne, Brand Director at Carling, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support Black Country Fusion FC. Their inspiring story is truly what Made Local is all about, which is why we were so keen to make them some of the stars of our new advertising campaign. We hope the club continue to have a successful season on and off the pitch.”
