The Sun steps in to sponsor Headline’s Football Yearbook

The Sun is set to sponsor Headline’s The Football Yearbook in its 49th and 50th year.

The newspaper's sponsorship of the sports reference publication has been agreed to initially run for two years, taking The Football Yearbook through to its landmark 50th edition in August 2019.

The Football Yearbook was previously sponsored by Rothmans from 1970-1971 until 2002-2003, and by Sky Sports from 2003-2004 until 2017-2018.

The Football Yearbook 2018-2019 in association with the Sun will be published on 9th August in both hardback and trade paperback formats. The 2019-2020 edition will be published in early August 2019 and will be the book’s 50th edition.

The annual's publisher, Jonathan Taylor, said: “We were absolutely thrilled when the Sun approached us with a proposal to allow this wonderful book to continue its 48 years of uninterrupted publication. We are very excited by the potential of our partnership with the Sun and we look forward to working with them on the book over the coming years.  

“Both companies appreciate just how much the Yearbook means to many thousands of football fans throughout the world.”

Gareth Williams, commercial head of Sport at the Sun, said the newspaper was “so proud” to partner with “the legendary industry bible”, The Football Yearbook, and would be working closely with Headline to promote it.

“At the Sun we pride ourselves on our passion for all things football and look forward to working closely with the team at Headline publishing to promote the Yearbook, especially next year when we both celebrate our 50th anniversaries,” he said.

Shaun Custis, head of Sport, the Sun, added: “Fans and journalists across the football industry will be delighted to hear that The Football Yearbook lives to see another day thanks to the Sun. The Yearbook is steeped in nostalgia for so many people and a crucial part of the football season – long may it reign.”