Contact us UK online banking (new window) UK online banking Search News About us Investor relations Citizenship Careers Products and services Share Email Print Sponsorship The true spirit of Barclays Premier League Saturday August 17th 2013 was a big day in the life of football fans up and down the country as the 22nd season of the Barclays Premier League kicked off. For lifelong Evertonian, Billy Ingham 86, the first game of the season is a big event. He’s been following them for 70 years, brought up on stories of the great Everton goal scorer Dixie Dean, and now he had high hopes for the Everton under new manager Roberto Martinez – a top half dozen finish at least, maybe even a Champions League position. The first game of the season was away to Norwich. Billy would have to pick up the scores on the TV – not the same as going to the match – but that would have to wait until the following week for the visit of West Brom. Yet that Saturday at home watching the scores on TV he had other thoughts on his mind as he was about to become the most recognised fan in the country. Over the previous few weeks Billy’s house has been full of cameramen, directors and photographers. Everton were about to ask him to walk on the pitch before the game against West Brom to be applauded by 40,000 Evertonians; for Billy was about to become a TV star. “To be an Evertonian and to be shown watching Everton in an advert about the club is something that makes me so proud. I’m so proud about the club and I’m made up to be on television. It’s so exciting – I’ll never forget it.” Billy Ingham, lifelong Everton supporter During the lead up to the season Barclays had been looking for fans that lived the ‘true spirit of the game’. The fans who supported their teams through thick and thin, continued to give their support when others had lost interest, cared for their team, its traditions, its culture. Barclays had recently committed to a new brand purpose - Helping people achieve their ambitions - in the right way – and it was clear millions of football fans around the world were all supporting their teams in the right way and as sponsors of the Barclays Premier League for the last 12 years it was a good time to recognise all those fans who were living the true spirit of the game. Billy, who chose to support Everton as a teenager having taken the logical step of watching Liverpool and Everton three times each to compare them and, chose the blues ‘because they played better football’ much to the dismay of his Liverpool-supporting dad, was delighted to appear in the advert supporting his beloved Everton. “To be an Evertonian and to be shown watching Everton in an advert about the club is something that makes me so proud. I’m so proud about the club and I’m made up to be on television. It’s so exciting – I’ll never forget it.” The cameras followed Billy as he walked to the ground, where he is a popular figure among generations of Blues. It’s a little bit quieter in Billy’s house now. Yet Billy can still be seen on TV walking to Goodison, or every other Saturday at the ground. In this section Our sponsorships The Barclays Barclays Center True spirit of Barclays Premier League Barclaycard Sponsorship strategy Sponsorship criteria Applying for sponsorship SPONSORSHIP Barclays Premier League champions crowned Manchester United were crowned Barclays Premier League champions on Sunday at Sir Alex Ferguson’s last-ever home game as manager. 13 May 2013, 09:00 BST SPONSORSHIP Barclays Asia Trophy returns to Hong Kong Top Barclays Premier League teams will return to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia trophy. 17 Jan 2013, 14:00 GMT SPONSORSHIP Barclays Premier League to welcome 250 millionth fan The world’s biggest league is expecting to celebrate its 250 millionth fan through the turnstiles on Tuesday, 27 November. 26 Nov 2012, 08:00 GMT News About us Investor relations Citizenship Careers Results and reports Q3 2014 Interim Management Statement (PDF, 997KB) Barclays PLC Annual Report 2013 (PDF, 4.75MB) All financial results Press and media Press releases Barclays on social media Other links UK online banking Products and services Contact us Around the world Privacy policy Accessibility Important information Terms of use Cookie policy © Barclays 2015