Isuzu dealers across the UK will be actively involved with the pick-up brand’s new sponsorship of The FA Trophy and The FA Vase, two grassroots football competitions.

From today, the two non-league competitions will be known as The Isuzu FA Trophy and The Isuzu FA Vase.

Isuzu UK said it will become the “driving force” behind grassroots football. Isuzu dealerships across the county will be getting actively involved with their local clubs, with several having already started making preparations for local sponsorship deals, placement of advertising boards and promotional matchday activations. 

The pick-up brand welcomed 16 new dealers in 2021, as part of a network expansion programme that saw it appoint a number of ex-Mitsubishi sites.

William Brown, managing director of Isuzu UK, said: “We are extremely delighted to announce our new partnership with The FA and the title sponsorship of The FA Trophy and FA Vase competitions.

“We know that a local football club can often be the heart of a community, being run by volunteers and supported by local people and this is something that, along with the Isuzu dealer network throughout the country, we are pleased to support.

“We are looking forward to actively supporting the teams involved in the two competitions and being the driving force behind grassroots football. We can’t wait to kick off the new season.”

The Isuzu FA Trophy is open to clubs playing in Steps 1 to 4 of The FA’s National League System, which are the four tiers immediately below League Two of the EFL, and The Isuzu FA Vase is open to clubs at Steps 5 to 6. The round dates, clubs accepted and any exemptions for both competitions will be announced in July 2022.

The Finals of both competitions are to be held at Wembley Stadium, in May 2023. Last season’s ‘non-league finals day’ attracted a crowd of 46,111 people who witnessed Newport Pagnall win The FA Vase and Bromley lift The FA Trophy.

The FA’s commercial director Navin Singh added: “We’re really excited to welcome Isuzu onboard as both a partner and title sponsor of The FA Trophy and The FA Vase. These competitions involve National League System teams across the length and breadth of the country, and Isuzu’s commitment to this level of the game and extensive network of dealerships will help to support them next season and beyond.”

Isuzu recently announced the appointment of 13 specialist Arctic Trucks dealers to support the sales, servicing and requirements for the recently launched Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35.