PUMA® Signs England Star Andrew Flintoff

PUMA®, the UK’s fastest growing sports lifestyle brand, has announced the signing of Andrew Flintoff, to further boost the brand’s sports marketing portfolio.

Flintoff’s contract with PUMA® will see him play in PUMA® footwear, using PUMA cricket equipment as well as wearing PUMA® sportslifestyle ranges off the pitch.

Commenting on the four year deal Flintoff (right) says: “As a brand, PUMA® goes beyond the performance needs of cricketers. PUMA® address design and individualism in a way that perfectly meets my interests and expectations – including being the first to introduce a pink cricket bat. Their innovation in cricket is unparalleled. I’m really excited to be joining the brand and looking forward to developing the relationship throughout the next stage of my career.”

"Be it on or off the cricket pitch, there is no doubt that Freddie completely embodies the PUMA® brand through his passion, style and individualism”, said Richard Callaway, Head of Sport at PUMA ®UK. “We revolutionized the game of cricket with a new way of looking at product. Dynamic players such as Adam Gilchrist, Brendon McCullum and Andrew Flintoff demand ever higher levels of performance, modern designs, innovative thinking and new technology. We are confident that this will be a successful and exciting partnership for both parties.”

In 2009 PUMA®'s cricket collection is 100% PVC free. This represents a huge leap forward in product development and PUMA®’s environmental responsibility. The benefits are great; product is of a much higher quality and weight is significantly reduced. PVC has traditionally been used in the production of cricket equipment because of its low cost and high durability. Everything from bat labels to the facing of batting pads and gloves has historically used PVC in their construction. However PVC is difficult to manufacture and hard to dispose of because of its chlorine content. Many environmental groups also advise against its use in consumer goods because of its harmful impact on the environment.

Comments Richard Callaway, “Working closely with our global cricket suppliers, we believe 100% PVC free has significantly improved the quality and performance of our entire cricket product. This is further proof that PUMA® is in tune with today's modern game and setting the standards in product innovation.”