Andy Devaney
Forget envelopes, oversized cheques, or awkward handshakes at halftime – Midnite just dropped £1,000 to Southampton fans… from the sky.
The Official Training Kit Partner of Southampton Football Club took the term ‘Parachute Payments’ and gave it a dramatic twist worthy of a Hollywood action sequence.
Five unsuspecting Saints supporters, invited to watch the team train at Staplewood ahead of the new season, thought their reward was a behind-the-scenes peek. Instead, they got a squadron of professional skydivers hurtling towards them with cash in hand.
And who should be waiting pitchside but new Southampton boss Will Still, ready to hand over the money – and a few memories that will probably outlast the bank balance.
“The fans are what makes this club so special, and to be able to give something back for their amazing dedication over the years is always nice,” said Still. “They spend their hard-earned money to support the club, and we’ll do everything we can this season to bring them happiness and pride. It’s not everyday that you get £1,000 delivered by a skydiver, so I’m sure they’ll remember this moment for a long time.”
One of the lucky winners, Julie Barrett, 64, from Eastleigh, has been following the Saints for over half a century. She works in a home for people with dementia, but on this day, she was the one getting treated.
“I suppose I’ll spend the money on football,” she laughed. “Where I want to go this year is Wrexham away. Maybe I could stay and make a week of it!”
For Midnite, this wasn’t just a stunt – it was a statement. Andrew Mook, the brand’s Head of Marketing, said: “We wanted to give some real meaning to the term ‘Parachute Payments’, and what better way than parachuting down cash to deserving fans.
“We’re extremely excited about our partnership with Southampton, and we want the club and its supporters to see Midnite as a partner who has their best interests at heart. Throughout the season we’ll be running a whole host of initiatives all designed to bring fans closer to the sport and club they love, and it has been brilliant to see the reaction of the supporters here today receiving their much-deserved rewards.”
The fast-growing UK sports betting and online casino operator isn’t done yet. This airborne payday is just the first in a season-long series of initiatives designed to connect Southampton supporters with the sport they live and breathe.
And if the first act was skydivers dropping bundles of cash onto the training pitch, you can only imagine what Midnite has planned for an encore.
