British football is no stranger to food and drink sponsorships: Leicester City’s longstanding connection with Walker’s Crisps, Sheffield Wednesday and Chupa Chups, The Coca-Cola Cup, all those alcohol sponsors in the 90s. But in a quaint model village in Birmingham lives an amateur football club named after the second-largest confectionery brand in the world: Cadbury Athletic F.C.
Cadbury Athletic F.C. was founded in 1994 as a volunteer-led non-profit. They started life in Division Three of the Midland Combination, 7 steps from the Premier League at the time. Eventually they found their way up the leagues and got promoted to the Midland Premier League in 2004/05. They now sit in Division Two after a few league resignations.
The club takes its roots very seriously. The Chocolate Men, as they’re known, wear purple and white kits, play their games in Bourneville (yes, that’s where the chocolate’s name comes from) and all their income goes back into the local community. That includes a first team, a junior team, and a walking football team for people of all genders aged 50 and over to play the beautiful game at their own pace.
Among Cadbury’s alumni are players like Demarai Gray and Daniel Sturridge, both local lads and both achieving success in their careers.