(LONDON, ENGLAND)
Avery Dennison, the official name, number, and sleeve badge supplier of the Premier League, has today pledged to donate to the Players Together fund to help in its support of National Health Service (NHS) workers and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
Driven by the efforts of Premier League captains to show unity in the fight against racism, the surnames on the back of players’ shirts have been replaced with the phrase “Black Lives Matter,” for which global sportswear branding and labelling manufacturer Avery Dennison produced the bespoke individual letters.
These shirts have been worn by all players across the opening 12 fixtures of the restart of the 19/20 season. In addition, an NHS chest patch and Black Lives Matter sleeve badge, also produced by Avery Dennison, will feature on Premier League shirts for the remainder of the season.
The #PlayersTogether fund was launched following conversations between club captains as a voluntary initiative. It has already raised millions to support NHS workers on the frontline before the announcement that all Premier League players are standing together with the singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists, to bring about a global society of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunities for All, regardless of their colour or creed.. Last night, it was confirmed that the match worn shirts will be auctioned off by players to raise money for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
Watford forward Troy Deeney was one of the club captains who led the discussions with the Premier League around how players can show that they are united against racial prejudice. He said: “We want to continue to use our position to support causes the players feel strongly about. It is important that we use our platform for good and make it clear there is no room for racism in our game or anywhere. On behalf of the players, I would like to thank Avery Dennison for their donation and for their support in producing the badges and lettering for our match shirts.”
Michael Barton, vice president at Avery Dennison RBIS, said “Avery Dennison is a proud partner of the Premier League and we are honoured to produce and supply these specialized badges and letters. We look forward to making a financial donation to support the #PlayersTogether fund and the great work being done by Premier League players.”
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About Avery Dennison Retail Branding and Information Solutions
Avery Dennison Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS), a global leader in providing end-to-end solutions in the apparel and footwear industry, is a $1.5 billion division of Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY). RBIS provides intelligent, creative and sustainable solutions that elevate brands and accelerate performance throughout the global supply chain. RBIS helps elevate brands through graphic tickets, tags and labels, embellishments, packaging solutions and woven components that enhance consumer and product appeal. It accelerates performance through radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled inventory, loss prevention solutions, consumer engagement, price management, printer and labeller products, global compliance, intelligent labels, and brand security solutions. RBIS serves the global marketplace with operations in 50 countries, across six continents. For more information, visit www.averydennison.com/RBIS.