Visit North Korea, a tour company running unique trips to the world’s most secretive state, has signed a sponsorship deal with English football club Blyth Spartans.
The deal became public on Boxing Day when adverts and banners were displayed during the club’s match against Spennymoor Town. The ads were shared on social media by fans and the news has now made headlines around the world.
An announcement about the deal was published in the club’s match programme on the same day.
Although the company’s name is similar to those used by some tourist boards, Visit North Korea is not a tourism association, but a private company set up in 2015 by founder Tom Fowdy.
Blyth Spartans commercial manager Mark Scott said the sponsorship deal involved the club’s ‘most unique pitch side advertising board to date’.
He said: "Having seen the recent Michael Palin documentary I was certainly interested by the country despite negative views on the country’s politics."
He told the local Chronical newspaper the agreement did not amount to an endorsement of the North Korean regime.
"Who am I to judge?" he said. "The guy running [Visit North Korea] is going over to visit the country, not shake hands with Kim Jong-un, so we have no problem with it."
Blyth Spartans is based just north of Newcastle upon Tyne, in Northumberland. Its stadium, called Croft Park, has capacity of 4,400.
The club plays in the Northern League North division. Its Boxing Day match resulted in a 2-2 draw.
A statement on the travel company’s website says "Visit North Korea is pleased to announce a sponsorship deal with English football club Blyth Spartans FC."
Visit North Korea’s Tom Fowdy told Sky News the deal’s aim was to generate publicity.
He said: "We’d like to do more in the future with Blyth Spartans and potentially other clubs but it’s a great place for us to make a start in promoting travel to North Korea as a means of positive engagement."
