Mastercard has become the official shirt sponsor of CPD Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch FC in a three-year deal that will support the team’s promotion ambitions and raise awareness of its new Click to Pay technology.

The North Wales Coast West Division One side, known for having the longest club name in world football at 58 letters, plays in the fourth tier of the Welsh league and will debut the new kits this season.

Designed by local football shirt specialist Andrew Maclean and manufactured in nearby Bangor, the home, away and goalkeeper kits are described as an “all-Welsh affair” featuring the full town name, club badge, Welsh dragon, and Mastercard branding.

Andrew said the blue-and-black striped home shirt was “part-inspired by Barcelona, as well as by the windows at the Llanfairpwll railway station, one of the town’s most popular attractions.” The away kit incorporates burgundy detailing to match the station’s iconic sign.

The sponsorship builds on Mastercard’s earlier collaboration with the village of Llanfairpwll, one of eight long-named European towns chosen to pioneer Click to Pay, a secure, single-click payment system designed to eliminate the need for entering card numbers and personal details during online purchases.

Simon Forbes, Division President, UK and Ireland, Mastercard, said: “Football clubs are the beating heart of communities across the country, and we’re proud to announce this long-term partnership, cementing our links with Llanfairpwll.

“This expanded collaboration reflects our commitment to backing grassroots football and local businesses and driving forward technology that helps support everyday transactions across small towns and villages as well as global cities.”

Click to Pay is part of Mastercard’s strategy to end manual card entry by 2030. The company says the technology addresses consumers’ biggest frustrations with online shopping, including lengthy checkouts and concerns over data security.

To launch the sponsorship, Mastercard will host an event at Llanfairpwll’s first home game of the season against Llangoed on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August. A ‘Click to Pay’ van will serve free matchday pies, and fans will be able to sign up for the payment service with partner the Co-op, as well as receive exclusive club merchandise.

Forbes added: “Click to Pay is designed to make life easier for everyone – from fans buying tickets and merchandise to local businesses processing transactions quickly and securely.

“We’re looking forward to cheering on Llanfairpwll FC this season and showing residents and local retailers a simpler, faster and more secure way to pay online.”

The move comes amid a wave of high-profile investment in Welsh football. Since 2021, Wrexham AFC has risen to the Championship under its Hollywood owners, while Swansea City recently announced new A-list backing.

Llanfairpwll FC chairman Samantha Jones-Smith said: “You only have to look down the road at Wrexham to see how football partnerships can inspire success on the pitch and a huge feel-good factor off it.

“This isn’t just another sponsorship deal for our club,  it’s a collaboration that builds on the strong relationship Mastercard has forged with the Llanfairpwll community throughout the year.

“They’re not just putting their name on our shirts; they’re investing in our future, our facilities, and most importantly, our supporters. We’re looking forward to celebrating before our first home game of the season and getting the opportunity to try out the technology as we kick-off with Click to Pay together.”

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