At Hospitality Finder, we’re proud to support grassroots football through our sponsorship of Bearsted FC, a historic and community-focused club with a strong local presence.

Supporting Local Talent

Founded in 1895, Bearsted FC is one of Kent’s oldest football clubs and has long been dedicated to nurturing talent. England Lioness Alessia Russo began her football career here, playing in a boys’ team above her age group and scoring an impressive 76 goals in a single season. Since Alessia’s recent success as a two-time European champion, the club has expanded to include five girls’ teams, highlighting its commitment to growing women’s football.

We chose to sponsor Bearsted FC because, as a local club with many teams, they face funding challenges that limit their ability to grow. Their continued expansion, especially in girls’ football, requires ongoing support to provide these opportunities for young players.

National Exposure

Recently, our sponsorship gained fantastic national exposure, shining a light on both our brand and the partnership.

  • BBC1 Primetime: a 1 minute 16 second interview with Bearsted FC Chairman, Jamie Houston
  • ITV Meridian: a 2 minute 50 second feature
  • Hospitality Finder branding: visible for a total of 2 minutes 30 seconds across coverage

This meant our story reached millions of viewers. To put that into perspective, BBC News attracts 4–5 million viewers per broadcast, while ITV News reaches around 2.2 million. In fact, BBC News alone reaches 75% of UK adults, creating a powerful platform for brand visibility.

And it didn’t stop there. Social media gave our story even greater reach. ITV Meridian shared the feature, Bearsted FC reshared our content, and even England star Alessia Russo engaged with our post, which was an incredible moment of recognition.

Impact on the Club and Our Brand

For Bearsted FC, this coverage has helped inspire more young people, particularly girls, to get involved in football, fostering a positive outlook on women’s sport. For Hospitality Finder, it’s a clear example of how supporting a local club strengthens our brand and reflects our commitment to community engagement.