Welsh builders merchants signs landmark kit sponsorship deal with referees across English football
Welsh builders merchants signs landmark kit sponsorship deal with referees across English football
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Anglesey-based building materials supplier Huws Gray Group has unveiled a major new partnership with Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), becoming the official kit sponsor for match officials across all English professional football competitions for the 2025/26 season.
The deal will see the Huws Gray logo featured on matchday and training kits worn by referees, assistant referees, and VAR officials in over 1,900 games this season, spanning the Premier League, EFL Championship, FA Cup, Women’s Super League, and more.
The announcement comes amid a period of rapid growth for the Anglesey-founded business, which now employs around 5,000 colleagues across 370 sites following a string of acquisitions. The company is also in the process of a major rebrand, aimed at enhancing its customer experience and unifying operations across the group.
Speaking about the partnership, Daksh Gupta, CEO of Huws Gray Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to announce our sponsorship of PGMO. This partnership is built on shared values of fairness, integrity, expertise, and professionalism – principles that resonate deeply with both organisations and the wider football community.
“We know that over 83% of our customers follow football and that’s why we have strategically aligned ourselves behind the sport. The partnership with PGMO gives us an exciting opportunity to reach new and existing customers through football, whilst retaining neutrality and not showing bias towards a particular team. It also underscores our ambition to grow our presence and compete at the highest level.
“We are also delighted that the sponsorship covers both the men’s and women’s competitions, especially given the incredible success of our Lionesses. This also aligns with our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, both at Huws Gray and in the wider sector.”
The new Huws Gray-branded referee kit will debut this Friday (8 August) in the EFL Championship clash between Birmingham City and Ipswich Town, and will feature prominently in Sunday’s Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
The exposure is set to be vast. In 2024, over 40 million fans attended live matches across the relevant competitions, with 900 million viewers tuning in globally. That number is expected to surpass 1 billion this season, fuelled by continued growth in both men’s and women’s football.
Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer at PGMO, welcomed the collaboration: “We’re delighted to welcome Huws Gray as our new sleeve partner. It’s great to be working with an organisation that values the important role of match officials in the game and shares our commitment to professionalism and excellence. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the Huws Gray team throughout the season ahead.”
This partnership reflects Huws Gray’s increasing brand visibility and national reach, coming just months after the company announced a strategic rebranding programme. The revamp includes updated visuals, signage, uniforms, and online presence, all designed to reflect its “making building better” ethos.
Founded in 1990 from a single branch in Anglesey, Huws Gray has grown into one of the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchants, offering a full suite of products and services across building materials, plumbing, heating, kitchens, bathrooms, plant hire, and more. It serves both trade professionals and DIY customers, supporting projects across the entire building lifecycle—from groundwork to finishing touches.
The company has also invested significantly in its manufacturing capabilities, producing bespoke roof trusses and lintels in-house. Since acquiring several brands from Grafton plc in 2022, Huws Gray has expanded its operational footprint across the UK, solidifying its position as a leading player in the sector.
With its latest foray into football, the firm is aiming to build its brand awareness among consumers and professionals alike, using the neutrality of refereeing as a platform to engage an audience that already overlaps strongly with its core customer base.
The sponsorship will run for the entire 2025/26 season, covering all Premier League, EFL, National League, and FA competitions across both men’s and women’s football.
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