Farnborough FC 'Sign' Messi and Pelé in Paddy Power Sponsorship

LONDON, August 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Manchester United and Chelsea may have missed out on their transfer targets, but the same cannot be said of Farnborough FC, who today unveiled Lionel Messi, Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer as part of their line up!

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130814/634192 )

In a world football first by bookmaker Paddy Power, every player in the first team squad of Farnborough FC has changed their name by deed poll to that of a legendary footballer in their respective position - meaning the most star-studded team ever assembled will face Chelmsford City this Saturday.

The yellow kit of Hampshire's finest will be adorned with all-time great names like Gascoigne, Best, Pelé, Banks and Beckenbauer.  Additionally the manager has become the 'Special One' by changing his name to Chelsea's José Mourinho

The partnership came just in time for 'Boro'. Having been trapped in administration since April, the club's future looked more precarious. The deal sees Paddy Power become title sponsors of the club, which will include kit branding and stadium sponsorship.

José Mourinho of Farnborough FC said:

"Over the summer it looked touch and go whether we'd even start the season, but now we've got by far the greatest team the world has ever seen."

Paddy Power added: "Not only does our support help secure the future of a great club but, in the modern world of sky-high money for season tickets, fans can forget the Nou Camp and now need only to travel to Paddy Power Park to see some of the world's greatest in action."

        Previous Name            Legend Name           Position
    Kevin Ainsley SCRIVEN        Gordon BANKS         Goalkeeper
    Oliver George TREACHER     Silva Rocha ROBERTO
                                   CARLOS              Defender
     Joshua Adam HUGGINS       Lothar MATTHAÜS         Defender
       Adam Hugh DOYLE          Paolo MALDINI          Defender
      Alan Francis INNS          Alan HANSEN           Defender
      Paul Jinnah MASSAQUOI  Marcos Evangelista de
                                 Moraes CAFU           Defender
      Nathan KOO-BOOTHE          Bobby MOORE           Defender
    Thomas Andrew McGARRY     Franz BECKENBAUER        Defender
     Reece Nicholas JONES        George BEST           Midfield
    Stephen Thomas LAIDLER      Paul GASCOIGNE         Midfield
     Scott Paul DONNELLY        David BECKHAM          Midfield
       Merrick Anthony
         JAMES-LEWIS           Zinedine ZIDANE         Midfield
    Tyrone Michael Justin
            BERRY               Johann CRUYFF          Midfield
        Daniel BENNETT           Lionel MESSI          Striker
    Reece William CONNOLLY       Gary LINEKER          Striker
     David Charles TARPEY       Diego MARADONA         Striker
                               Edson Arantes do
      Elvis Zark HAMMOND       Nascimento PELÉ         Striker
         Spencer DAY            José MOURINHO          Manager
      Leigh James Thomas
            DYNAN                Paddy POWER       Assistant Manager
     Simon John GARDENER      Sir Alex Fergurson   First-Team Coach
     Roger Leslie PEIRCE        Terry Venables          Kit Man

Contact:

Emma Watson, +44-(0)2076936999

SOURCE Paddy Power