Supporters decide spend of Sportsbet.io Crypto Fan Fund
Last November, Southampton Football Club announced that Main Club Partner, Sportsbet.io, had launched a first-of-its-kind Crypto Fan Fund, donating two Bitcoins to be spent on a fan-led initiative.
Following the fan-led vote in March, the club is proud to announce that the Sportsbet.io Crypto Fan Fund will be used to open a new ‘Saints Social Club’ at the Northam Social Club, just a stone’s throw from St Mary’s Stadium at 117 Northam Road.
The club and Sportsbet.io worked with the Saints Voice fans group to decide how the donation would be spent. Once those ideas were finalised it was taken to a fan vote for the ultimate decider.
The funds will be used to turn the Northam Social Club into the ultimate Southampton FC fan pub, complete with striking artwork and Saints memorabilia. It will be the perfect gathering place for fans ahead of games on matchday while also serving as a social hub for Southampton in the community during the week.
International fans won’t be left out either, with international fan groups able to experience the atmosphere of the Saints Social Club through the magic of Virtual Reality. VR headsets will be donated to dedicated fan clubs abroad.
The value of the Fan Fund has been safeguarded and will continue to be during the delivery of the Saints Social Club.
The Saints Social Club will open on Saturday 27th August, for the home fixture against Manchester United. To celebrate the opening, Southampton legends Franny Benali and Nigel Adkins will join host Tom Deacon for a live panel at the Northam after the match, followed by a performance by Saints Brass.
Fans will be given a Saints Social Club membership card upon arrival at the Northam, which will give them access to all future Saints Social Club events, including every Southampton FC matchday.
“It’s been brilliant to work in close collaboration with the representatives of our Saints Voice panel and to find out what really matters to them in order to bring the best matchday experiences for our fans. The new Saints Social Club will provide a wonderful opportunity to bring our fans together and act as a real focal point for our local community,” says Sarah Batters, Director of Partnerships and Marketing at Southampton Football Club.
“We’re really looking forward to the Saints Social Club officially opening and to see our fans come together in celebration as it will provide a great pre-match social opportunity. We’d like to thank Southampton Football Club and Sportsbet.io for inviting us to guide the process and for giving us the opportunity to have our say,” says Mike Sadler, Chair of Saints Voice.
Helen Edwards, Head of Responsible Gambling at Sportsbet.io, said: “It’s been a privilege to work with Saints Voice and the Southampton fans throughout this process, and we’re so excited to see the Saints Social Club come to fruition this summer. Through the Crypto Fan Fund, we wanted to show how crypto can be used to genuinely support fans and help them deliver the initiatives that they want to see, and with the help of Southampton FC and Saints Voice we’re delighted to have been able to do exactly that.”
The donation consolidates Sportsbet.io’s ongoing commitment as the main club sponsor of Southampton Football Club.
As part of the club’s sustainability strategy,
, Southampton Football Club is committed to putting our fans at the heart of everything we do. Find out more about how the club is committed to giving its fans a voice
.
