The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy footballing season is fast approaching the final whistle but what a year it has been for the teams, the fans and the employees who have been involved.

The Trophy has offered a great opportunity for teams in Leagues One and Two to take their place in a showpiece final and for Johnstone’s it has helped lift the brand recognition to greater heights than ever before.

Johnstone’s has worked hard to promote the sponsorship in the first year. Dedicated sponsorship manager, Teresa Quinn said: “Our first task was to bring the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy to as wide an audience as possible. A newly created Johnstone’s Paint Trophy website was quickly launched that welcomes football fans from across the world and has acted as a valuable source of information as well as offering fantastic competitions throughout the season.”

Johnstone’s decorating centres throughout the UK have also supported the sponsorship by entertaining customers at the matches, running local competitions and staging competition launches where fans could meet their football idols and have a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.

A national five-a-side competition run by Johnstone’s has also proved hugely popular. Johnstone’s has combed the country searching for the best two decorating football teams to take part in a very special match at Cardiff before the main event. Today, Bromborough Paints FC and Lyndhurst FC will battle it out to become five-a-side champions.

Teresa believes the company's first season, as sponsor had been an exciting one: "The whole company has a passion for football. The sponsorship has certainly delivered us some fantastic football and has also enabled us to promote our brand and products to a huge audience across England and Wales. We have also been able to involve the fans in as many aspects of the competition as possible, which was one of our main aims. Our focus after Sunday's final will be on next year and how we, together with The Football League, can achieve even more."

Johnstone’s has also made four young supporters dreams come true by offering them the chance to take part in a half time penalty shoot out at the final. Gasheads Andrew Wright (11) and Joseph Panes (11) and Donny supporters Georgina Saynor (10) and Josh Ilman (9) will today face the opposing team’s mascot and battle it out for the trophy after entering the competition on Johnstone’s official website.

Gina Laycock, decorating centre marketing manager for Johnstone's, said: “We had such an overwhelming response to the penalty shoot out competition, it has been fantastic. I hope that all four competitors enjoy their day in Cardiff and they show the mascots what they are made of.”

Everyone at Johnstone’s would like to wish both Bristol Rovers and Doncaster Rovers the best of luck for today’s final and hope that fans and employees alike enjoy the day with us.

For more information about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy visit www.johnstones-paints.co.uk

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Sarah Allen, Connect PR, sarah@connect-group.com - 01902 714957.

Johnstone's has over 170 Decorating Centres throughout the UK and Ireland offering professional advice and service as well as market leading quality and value. It is open to both professional trade and the general public. Johnstone's UK headquarters are in Birstall, West Yorkshire , where the firm employs over 2,000 people bringing colour to the homes of millions of football fans.

Download this document in word format (approx 418Kb)