Southport firm listed in UK Top 20

Nice 'n' Naughty help football team dress to impress

BASED in Formby, Pines FC are a Sunday League football club that have been going for several years, but due to a lack of sponsorship, they haven't had a new kit for over 4 seasons.

Nice 'n' Naughty and SG Schoolwear and Sportswear, wanted to change that for them, so at Christmas gifted them a new kit to proud for the whole team in preparation for the start of their 2024 matches along with continued sponsorship.

This isn't the 1st time Nice 'n' Naughty have attempted sports sponsorship but at the time, it just wasn't cricket!!

18 years ago, back in 2006, the adult store Nice 'n' Naughty were in talks with Southport Trinity Cricket Club, to sponsor the team with new kits. As a small club, Nice 'n' Naughty wanted to show our support to the team as at the time we were a local business within the Town.

Well, little did we know at the time, what a huge outcry this offer would create. The ECC banned Nice 'n' Naughty from any form of sponsorship within the cricketing world, and the subsequent news reports went global, with the outrage that a:- "sex shop" could sponsor a cricket team; this time sex sold; but for all the wrong reasons!

So, this time, Trish met with members of Pines FC discuss the idea of new kits and sponsorship. Having been:- "bowled out" before, she wanted to ensure it was the right decision, but whilst speaking to the men that play for the team, she realised it really was something that Nice 'n' Naughty had to get involved with. It was obvious that is was about so much more than:- 'The Beautiful Game,' or scoring goals or even winning, it was about their mental health and supporting each other both as individual members and as a team.

The team are a group of men, ranging in age from:- 18 to 35, and for them, Pine FC offers them a weekly outlet from day to day life. It is also a safe space that gives each member an opportunity to talk and build friendships as well as fitness whilst having fun and supporting each other with life's struggles. This is all about the mental, as well as the physical wellbeing of these men.

"To us this Sunday football is more than just a game on the park, it's our outlet from everyday stresses, a break from the working week, a time we can go somewhere together chat and have fun and build friendships. As men we often don't talk and build up our problems until boiling point! When we are together on a Sunday we don't stop talking, any issues we attempt to support each other and work through them!" said 1 of the players.

Over the past few years, the cost of everything has increased and this is no different for many of the Sunday League Clubs that have found the rising costs of running a club to be their downfall. Clubs like Pine FC are not able to have huge subscription costs, as many of the team have young families to support, so it comes down to sponsorship and people like Trish, the team at Nice 'n' Naughty and SG Schoolwear and Sportswear to help.

Trish Murray recalls the 1st time the company offered sponsorship to a local club. "It really is quite surreal supporting a team again after all these years. I still remember all the uproar that occurred when we tried to support Southport Trinity Cricket Club back in 2006, but to be able to support the guys at Pine FC is incredible. They do so much for their community and each other. Grass roots football really does change lives, and to be able to help in some small way means a lot to us all at Nice 'n Naughty."

Grass root football teams, like Pine FC are an essentially important part of the local community, allowing men to have a couple of hours each week where they focus on themselves and are in a community where they can be vocal, heard, understood, and helped by other men going through or having gone through something similar. The coaches and teammates feel confident and comfortable about talking about their mental health problems, in just the same way that they would discuss their physical injuries, and this is very important.

Mental health in a public arena is discussed daily, but for so many men, sometimes discussing this or just general day to day problems is not an easy subject to bring up with others, but in environments like this, they are able to be open and talk with others who understand.

"Having been in and around Sunday league football for many years now, seeing teams come and go with financial aid being a major contributing factor, having the support of businesses like Nice 'n' Naughty and SG Schoolwear and Sportswear offering their help, gives the club stability and a chance for us to focus on the football rather than the finances and continue building the community we have going!"

Pines FC started a Go Fund Me page in 2023, in the hope others may help support the club with all donations generated going towards covering the cost of pitch fees, insurance and supplies, and giving this team the chance to continue to keep the game they love going, but also to ensure the mental and physical support this club gives to each, and every member of the team is not lost.

The team play in the Championship Division of the Southport and District Amateur Football League and Nice 'n' Naughty and SG Schoolwear and Sportswear are extremely proud to be in a position to sponsor the team and we wish them the best of luck for the remainder of this season and beyond.

Who would have thought, a game of football on a Sunday would offer so much more than the opportunity than just score some goals.

If you would like to help Pines FC their GoFundMe Page follow the link below or scan the QR code to take you to the team's GoFundMe.Com page.

Nice 'n' Naughty have 2 stores, 1 based in Brook Street, Chester, and 1 on Sankey Street, Warrington. SG Schoolwear and Sportswear are also based in Warrington.