At first glance, law and football don’t seem to have much in common. True, they both have their share of drama, conflict, and struggles against adversity, but there’s no question they are two very different arenas.
So when Truth Legal became a key partner of Hull City Ladies’ FC – the Tigresses – in July 2023, it might have seemed like an unlikely connection between two disparate worlds.
But that’s far from the full picture. Look beyond the surface, and it’s clear the partnership has many shared values. We’ll be exploring these in this blog and looking at the team’s recent successes, along with the important development work the club carries out in the community. Truth Legal is proud to support it all.
A cause close to the heart of our firm
Though the balance is improving – thanks in no small part to the outstanding skill and determination of England’s Lionesses – women’s football is still unjustly overshadowed by the men’s game, with a huge amount of young talent overlooked as a result.
At Truth Legal, fighting for equality and fairness is part of who we are, and a significant part of how we see the role of lawyers in society. Our work helping clients with workplace discrimination claims is closely tied to that. So supporting organisations such as Hull City Ladies’ FC to raise the profile and assist in the development of women’s football is very important to us.
And beyond the beautiful game, there are the many other benefits to having the club so active in the local community; their work creates opportunities for girls to pursue their footballing dreams, promotes health and well-being, and offers alternative pathways for those feeling pressured by toxic societal expectations.
Roaring success
The Tigresses are currently in the midst of an excellent season.
In October, they played their first match in the new away kits that featured Truth Legal’s logo. It was a proud moment for all of us at the firm, and their 3-0 win was the icing on the cake!
At the time of writing, the team currently stand second in Division One North of the FA Women’s National League, and are snapping at the heels of first-place Barnsley, a mere 3 points away.
There have been some setbacks too, however. In December, despite a hard-fought contest, the Tigresses were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Wolverhampton.
More positively, their campaign for the FA Women’s National League Plate is going from strength to strength. Having soundly defeated Norton & Stockton Ancients and FC United of Manchester (3-0 and 4-0 respectively) they now face their close division rivals Barnsley in the quarter-finals.
Truth Legal’s most significant sponsorship to date
Our sponsorship of the team is currently set to cover the ongoing season and the next, and is by far the largest sponsorship commitment Truth Legal has ever made.
The partnership coincided with the opening of Truth Legal’s new office in Hull as a way helping the new community of which we’ve become a part – in a similar way to our previous work in Harrogate and Leeds.
Georgina Parkin, Truth Legal’s Managing Director, had this to say:
“As a law firm deeply rooted in Yorkshire, we are committed to supporting local initiatives and nurturing talent within our community. Through this partnership, we hope to not only contribute to the growth of women’s football in the region but also showcase our unwavering commitment to serving clients in Hull. With this collaboration, we aim to promote the values of fairness and equality, both on and off the pitch. We believe in the power of sport to inspire and empower individuals, just as we believe in our ability to fight for justice and deliver exceptional client service.”
Looking to the future
The club have got big plans for their talented squad. First is to secure promotion to the Northern Premier Division of the FA Women’s National League, but ultimately, the team hopes to ascend from there to the Women’s Championship and on to the heights of the Women’s Super League.
At the time of writing, the Tigresses’ next match will be the National League Plate quarter-final against Barnsley on 28th January.
All of us at Truth Legal will be willing them on, every step of the way!
Further Reading
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