The Football Association and Mars Chocolate UK have renewed their partnership for another four-' year term.
It means Mars will continue its role as Official Supporter of the England Team and remain Official' Partner to the Just Play„programme until July 2018.
To celebrate , The FA and Mars will offer fans nationwide the chance to take part in free Just Play'' sessions close to home during the tournament in Brazil next summer. The Just Play„programme was' launched in June 2011 and aims to increase the numbers of adults playing football.
The FA and Mars are working together to make a lasting difference to adult football. Over the next' four years, the aim is to offer one million Just Play„opportunities, with more sessions in more places' across the country.
Building on the success of the programme to date, the number of Just Play„centres will increase' to 300 and 500 Just Play„organisers will have been trained. This will make Just Play„the country's' biggest and fastest-growing adult football participation scheme.
Since its introduction in 2011, the programme has helped to boost football participation numbers' by:
Ë Creating 200,000 adult places at Just Play„kickabout sessions
Ë Opening over 200 Just Play„centres nationwide
Ë Training over 400 Just Play„organisers
Just Play provides fun, flexible formats of play, facilities, organisers and an online tool that enables' players to take part in casual football at a time that suits them. To get involved, anyone over 16' can simply search online for Just Play„(www.TheFA.com/justplay), enter their postcode, and book' themselves into a local kickabout.
Theo Walcott, Mars ambassador for The FA Mars Just Play„programme, said:' Ĺ›The free Just Play„sessions will be a great opportunity for people to dust off their boots and have a' casual kickabout next summer ” I've taken part in a number of Just Play„sessions since the scheme' started in 2011 and it's a great way to get out and enjoy our national sport.ĹĄ
Roy Hodgson, England Manager, said: Ĺ›Mars has shown a genuine commitment to making it easy' for adults to get back to playing football. This goes hand-in-hand with the enthusiasm of our' fantastic fans and the support our team enjoys from all corners of the country. Extending The FA's' partnership with Mars is extremely positive news for the English game.”
