Leading Lancashire law firm Watson Ramsbottom, which specialises in a wide range of legal services, has agreed to a record deal that surpasses all previous front of shirt partnership agreements since 2012. Watson Ramsbottom is a highly respected company that has a long history with the club, having first become our back of shirt sponsor in 2018. With the agreement of this deal, the business will be on all first team, Under-21s, and replica kits, as well as being back of shirt sponsors for the Women’s team. Blackburn Rovers is pleased to announce that Watson Ramsbottom will take pride of place on the front of the Rovers shirts for the 2024–25 campaign as our new front of shirt partner.
With offices throughout East Lancashire and branches in Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Great Harwood, Chorley, and Clitheroe, the forward-thinking company offers support in a wide range of services, including personal, commercial, property, and family matters. Over 200 locals are employed by them.
Additionally, Watson Ramsbottom Managing Director Elton Ashworth is thrilled to continue the collaboration into a sixth year as a lifelong Rovers supporter who often attends both home and away games.
“Over the past seven or eight years, Watson Ramsbottom has grown incredibly, and it has undoubtedly placed us in a position where we can do something like this for the club and the community, which has been so significant for many, many of our members—not just myself.
We have 240 employees in the East Lancashire region, and a big portion of them are Rovers supporters, so we’re all really excited about this.
“It’s a local practice, and 200 of those workers are most likely from the Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, and Clitheroe regions.
The fact that it falls inside two significant periods of my life and that I’m doing it this year, thirty years after that incredible season, makes it a huge stride. The fact that Watson Ramsbottom is now able to accomplish something of this magnitude fills us with immense pride.
It’s fantastic for me and the business’s brand building. When the Rovers play away from home in different parts of the nation, you receive exposure not just to the local audience—that is, to everyone who wears the shirts.
He continued, “I’ve been a Rovers fan all my life, since my grandad started taking me when I was about seven,” thinking back to his early Rovers experiences, including his first trip to Ewood in 1979 with his grandfather Alan.
“I spent a few years working in the event suites catering department at Rovers, where I took care of a few directors, some of whom are still there today.
I’ve gone from being one of the waiters in there to the front of shirt partner, so it’s been quite a journey.
“It’s been a big part of my life and it’s part of my children’s lives because they’ve not really had any choice! They go to all the games, they’re all as indoctrinated as I am because they’ve not had a choice!
“My grandad would be so proud because he loved every minute of being at Ewood and he’d be over the moon to see the business on the front of the shirt.”
Rovers CEO Steve Waggott added: “We’re delighted Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors have agreed to be our front of shirt partner for the 2024-25 season.
“Watson Ramsbottom are tremendous supporters of the club, and have been so for a number of years, after first becoming our back of shirt sponsor in 2018.
“We’re really pleased to once again be partnering with an organisation embedded within our community as we prepare to celebrate our 30-year anniversary of winning the Premier League.
“It’s extremely important we continue to work closely and have strong relationships with local businesses and this new agreement further signifies our commitment as a club to this.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Elton Ashworth and his team for their continued commitment and support for Blackburn Rovers, and we’re looking to working closely with them for a sixth consecutive season.”
Yasir Sufi, Head of Commercial and Partnership, said: “We would like to thank Totally Wicked for all their support over the years.
“It’s great to see another local company, who are long-term supporters of the club, as our front of shirt partners for the 24-25 season.
“It’s amazing to see the journey Elton has been on, from a six-year-old on the terraces with his grandad to working at the club in our hospitality lounges, and now his business is on the front of the Blackburn Rovers shirt.
“It just shows what can be achieved with hard work and skill and, like Totally Wicked, is another great success story for our town.”
