J Wray & Nephew Limited, through its brand Charley’s JB Overproof Rum, has signed a three-year contract with Jamaica’s four football confederations to create the JB Super League, it was announced at a media function at Sabina Park recently.

This historic move will, for the first time, see all 40 Super League teams unite.

With an investment of over $60 million over three years, the JB Super League will be the first locally sponsored football competition of its kind in which the 40 football teams from the four Super League confederations across the island — Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), Eastern, South Central and Western super leagues — will all participate in a unified football league.

According to J Wray & Nephew Ltd’s Marketing Director Gary Dixon the aim behind the Charley’s JB Rum sponsorship of all four confederations is to strengthen the national football programme overall and encourage togetherness and unity among players and Jamaicans.

“Football is the biggest sport in Jamaica, and from our experiences sponsoring the Western Super League, we saw the unifying power of the game with communities coming together as one,” he noted. “With that said, we saw the opportunity to start a movement or what we call a ‘rebelution’ bringing all of the country’s super leagues together, which will improve the quality and competitiveness of the sport at the Super League level for the betterment of our national football programme.”

All the presidents of the four confederations are excited about this historic new partnership.

Michael Ricketts, president of the South Central Confederation, said that the new partnership was a novel idea.

“All of us are delighted about this. It is kind of novel to me because for the first time all four confederations will be sponsored by one company. I believe this is a step in the right direction. I want to commend the sponsors J Wray & Nephew and their Charley’s JB Rum for doing this and we are very excited about this new league,” he said.

President of KSAFA, Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, said the marketing thrust by a strong partner like Charley’s JB Rum will certainly improve the earnings for the leagues.

“We are very excited about the new partnership. We appreciate the support Charley’s JB Rum is giving to the development of football in Jamaica. We believe this will heighten spectator involvement which in turn will bring revenue to the confederations,” he said.

Linnel McLean, president of the Western Confederation, noted that, “I’m enthusiastic about the launch and as to how our confederations are now all involved. I am looking forward to the partnership at this level”.

President of the Eastern Confederation, Wayne Thompson, is indeed grateful for the partnership, saying “it shows a level of commitment to take on such a huge project, and it will help us tremendously”.

The JB Super League will unite 40 teams across the four super leagues: Eastern Super League — Axum, Brown’s Town, Delta Force, Highgate, Manchioneal, St Georges, Volvo and York; South Central Super League — Appleton, Black River, Hillstars, Downs, Jamalco, Sporting Central, Tru-Juice and Newlands; KSAFA Super League — August Town, Barbican, Brown’s Town, Bull Bay, Maverly Hughenden, Maxfield Park, Rae Town, Real Mona, Rockfort, Santos, Seaview Gardens and Shortwood United; and Western Super League — Savannah, Sandals White House, Wadadah, Clarks Town, Montego Bay Boys’ and Girls’ Club; Village United, Salt Marsh United, Petersfield, Lucea, Beaches Negril, Granville, and Reggae Youths.

The JB Super League is already in play as KSAFA’s Super League began on November 29, 2015, while the Western Confederation will begin on December 12 and the South Central and Eastern Confederations will begin in January 2016.