Adelaide United redirects sponsorship to Lady Reds

Adelaide United FC has announced  that it is directing a portion of its shirt-of-front sponsorship to its W-League team, the Lady Reds, in a move which is unprecedented in Australian Football.

The moves comes after the Lady Reds were able to secure the signature of  English international Katie Holtham from Notts County.

Veolia Environmental Services has been the shirt-front sponsor for Adelaide United since the beginning of the 2013/14 season, and will now feature on the shorts of the Lady Reds' kit as well as predominantly on the men's shirts.

In a media release on Wednesday, Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin said he was happy that the club could assist its women's outfit and football for women in general in South Australia.

"The club is happy to divert some sponsorship finds from Veolia as we regard the ongoing development of the Lady Reds as being important to football in this state and to the relationship with the [Football Federation of South Australia (FFSA)] ", Mr Griffin said.

"It is important for Adelaide United that girls in South Australia have a strong pathway into the elite women's competition and that we work closely with the FFSA," he said.

The W-League is entering its seventh season and is set to reach a new peak, as the players look to audition for a spot in the Matildas squad for the Women's World Cup to be held in Canada in 2015.

Furthermore, a number of clubs have signed foreign talent in the off-season, ensuring that the competition is more skillful than it has ever been in Australia.

The W-League kicks off this weekend, where the Lady Reds will take on Sydney FC at Lambert Park in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, before hosting Canberra United at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Sunday 21 September.