Brand make donation to Smith’s charity, ‘We Mind Kelly Matters’
BK8.com have announced ex-England and Arsenal footballer legend Kelly Smith as the brand’s first ever female ambassador. The partnership with Kelly is the first time ever a global betting brand has appointed a female ambassador.
Smith, who amassed over 100 caps for her country while winning a total of 20 trophies in three spells at Women’s Super League outfit Arsenal, has a legendary reputation in women’s football and represents a statement of intent from BK8 to support the women’s game.
The brand is keen to show its dedication to its new ambassador from day one, with BK8 having now donated to Smith’s charity “We Mind Kelly Matters”, whose aim is to help promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Smith said: “I am excited to be joining forces with BK8. After long discussions with them about their brand values and ambitions, I was really impressed by how they wanted to help focus on the women’s game now and in the future. To then make a substantial donation to a charity that is close to my heart, blew me away. If I can help them reach their goals by bringing my advice and expertise, I believe it can only be a really successful partnership.”
European Managing Director of BK8, Michael Gatt, said: “We are delighted to be working with Kelly and thoroughly excited about how we can work together over the next year. As a brand we have reflected heavily over the last few months and have taken stock of our core values and this partnership represents a new direction for BK8, one which we are committed to long term.
“The collaboration with Kelly is reflective of these new values we have as a brand and it demonstrates our commitment to them. Having already secured partnerships with a number of La Liga clubs in the past month, we now want to make a difference across not just elite football but across both the women’s game and grassroots game in the UK and elsewhere.”
Renowned as one of the country’s most technically gifted and prolific finishers, Kelly Smith is considered one of the greatest players ever to pull on an England shirt.
She enjoyed great spells with Arsenal in England as well as overseas in the United States, turning out for the likes of the Philadelphia Charge, New Jersey Wildcats and Boston Breakers.
However, Smith was revered mainly for her work with the Lionesses – at just 17-years-old she netted her first ever England goal, and went on to score 45 more over the next 20 years, leading the line for her country at five major competitions.
Her goal return currently tops England Women’s all-time goalscoring charts, which is only bested by Gary Lineker, Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney, who have scored more for the men’s side.
