Remember Npower - it isn't cricket

Npower - the company behind the sponsorship deal that bought silly team nicknames (like the Kent Spitfires or Lancashire Lightning) and Twenty20 to cricket - have signed a 'bumper deal` with the Football League to replace Coca Cola as official sponsors for the next 3 seasons...

...then promised "You`ve seen what we`ve done with the cricket. Now we want to bring that to football."

So, don`t be surprised to see the Hertfordshire Hornets face West London Super Hoops in the Npower Championship whilst the Npower League One features a 15-minute golden goal shootout - 90 minutes is soooo last season!!!

The energy company, who have been involved with Test cricket for 10 years, bowled over Football League representatives with a £21m package focused on community initiatives and a 72-club 'Charity Fund` that "delighted" Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney.

Reports even suggest that the ol` Lord and his merry band of yes men even turned down a more lucrative sponsorship deal with a major betting company because 'it was not a suitable association'.

Fortunately of all of us, Npower are considered to be "widely respected" - and rightly so. After all, the Npower girls certainly demand 'respect` and are sure to er, raise spirits in a footballing community near you soon.

Trust us, they are definately worth the bombardment of mailers about boiler replacements and gas bill savings that will pad out your season ticket next season!

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