A local pizzeria has thrown its support behind a newly-formed local ladies football team in a sponsorship deal. 

We Love Pizza is celebrating the Leamington Ladies' affiliation, marking an historical change which sees the former Leamington Lions club being brought under the Leamington FC umbrella, from the 2024/25 season. 

This year the Ladies' 26-person squad, play in the Birmingham Counties League, also competing in the FA Cup, League Cup and County Cup. 

Jose Ribeiro, who co-owns the Regent Place restaurant with his partner Geanina Lacraru, said: "We could not miss this opportunity to engage with and help contribute to bridging the gap between men's and women's sport and also help the women's team to grow. 

"As a new small, and part-female-led independent business, we understand better than anyone the extra challenges that women's football can face, often being the 'underdog' to much more powerful established forces. 

"WLP hopes that our humble support helps the team create a solid base where they can concentrate on their hard work, skills and commitment to shine and succeed. Our business wants to showcase, at our newly-re-opened restaurant, the same ethos of passion, quality, experience, and skills to 'score' highly with our customers every time." 

Leamington FC was formed in 1933 but due to the sale of the original ground, the club went into abeyance in the 87/88 season. It went on to reform in 2000, at its current location, now known as Your CO-OP Community Stadium, by a group of supporters that wanted to get Leamington FC back playing football. 

Leamington Ladies continued their pre-season friendlies with a 3-2 win over Halesowen. 

With the start of the new season, almost upon them, the club start the season, in the FA Cup, against Walsall Ladies on Sunday (1st September.) 

Simon Davies, spokesperson for Leamington Football Club, said: "This season sees the emergence of the Leamington Ladies, after a number of years under the leadership of the Leamington Lions affiliation. The club wanted to have all teams playing the one badge, a history-making change for our footballing future." 

"Leamington FC are pleased to be starting a new partnership with We Love Pizza. Our football club is at the centre of the Leamington and surrounding area community with the Men's & Ladies 1st Teams, U19s, U18s, Academy and Juniors. 

"Our sponsors are key to our football club and we are delighted to be welcoming Jose and his team to our football family. We are all looking forward to the 2024//25 season and thank We Love Pizza for their support." 

Following public demand, We Love Pizza reopened its restaurant with a unique new look in January, three years after the pandemic forced it to pivot into takeaway food. The two-storey dining space has been transformed by Leamington artist Gemma Grao into three vibrantly themed eating areas from Italian and Neopolitan and Amalfi coast through to more Industrial Urban vibes. 

Jose and Geanina pride themselves on delivering 'affordable quality' to their customers by using only the best and most nutritious flour combinations and implementing exact temperature control and longer fermentation periods for the sourdough.

Fresh ingredients are sourced directly from Italy – including tomatoes from the volcanic soils of Mount Versuvius - as well as locally. We Love Pizza's vegan and gluten-free products have also become a favourite. 

Jose said: "We offer something that is more personal and different than the mainstream. It's this character and not being afraid to be different that reflects the ethos behind what we do and that we're most proud of."

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