SSE become official partner of the Women's FA Cup

Monday 08 Jun 2015
The FA Women's Cup is the most popular cup competition in female football

The Women's FA Cup has a new partner after agreeing a four-year title sponsorship deal with energy firm SSE.

The tournament is the largest cup competition for female footballers in England, with 259 teams entering the 2014-15 installment.

In 2015 the Final – between Chelsea and Notts County - will take place at Wembley Stadium for the first time in the competition’s history.

As the popularity of the women's game continues to grow, the agreement with SSE marks another step forward in raising participation at all levels of the sport. 

The deal includes a commitment to invest in the women’s game with significant funding ring-fenced to create a country-wide programme of girls-only football around FA Women's Cup events. 

The 2015 Women's FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium on 1 August

It also represents a landmark moment in the history of women's football with the first ever major sponsorship of the Women’s FA Cup competition.  

Heather Rabbatts, FA Board member & Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board, welcomed the news. 

She said: "The FA is committed to ensuring that women’s football gets the status and investment it deserves – the buzz of anticipation around the FIFA Women’s World Cup is testimony to the appeal of the game.

"Similarly at grassroots, we as an organisation are committed to ensuring that there are access points for girls and women to enjoy the game across all levels and abilities. 

"This agreement with SSE meets both these ambitions and gives us the opportunity to build on all that we have already achieved. 

"Dreaming of playing at Wembley in The SSE Women’s Cup Final can now be a reality for girls too."

Chelsea Ladies and Notts County Ladies will go head to head for the coveted trophy on Saturday 1 August, which will now be known as The SSE Women’s FA Cup.

“The FA is committed to ensuring that women’s football gets the status and investment it deserves”

Heather Rabbatts Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board

It will serve as a curtain raiser to the 2015-16 season and kick off a weekend of back-to-back showpiece games with the FA Community Shield taking place the following day. 

Fittingly, on the eve of England’s World Cup campaign in Canada, over 100 young female football fans and players descended on Wembley Stadium to mark the launch of the exciting partnership with SSE.   

Alan Young, SSE managing director of Corporate Affairs, added: "We’re entering this partnership with one simple ambition - to make a difference to the future of women’s football and sport. 

"SSE’s investment will help drive the women’s game forward and together with The FA we will help continue to grow the sport, giving thousands more girls regular access to the beautiful game."

Tickets for the 2015 SSE Women’s FA Cup Final on are available by clicking here or by calling 0844 826 2010.

By FA Staff