Nottingham bar Hooters has sparked a debate online after announcing it was sponsoring a Burton Joyce youth football team for the forthcoming season.
Hooters revealed the deal made with Burton Joyce’s under-10s side late on Wednesday evening and posted pictures of a photocall held to celebrate the sponsorship.
The Nottingham restaurant is the currently the only franchise left in the UK – although a Liverpool restaurant is set to open shortly.
But the move has ruffled feathers, with a national TV debate now planned this morning following the announcement.
Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine on Five will feature the story later today and in a social post to promote the debate wrote: “Is it okay for provocative sports bar Hooters to sponsor a Nottingham under-10 football team?
“The American chain – famous for it’s scantily clad waitresses – announced they’re now sponsoring Burton Joyce FC’s under-10s team.
“But is it appropriate?”
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One parent defended the decision.
She tweeted: “Youth football is massively under funded. I’m sure they are glad for the sponsorship.
Another wrote: “it’s just a restaurant not a strip club!”
Other social media users took it upon themselves to make light of the sponsorship deal – with one user telling those critical of the move that it was ‘only a sports bar’.
One individual tweeted: ‘This is quality! I’m having words with my sons club as to why they didn’t secure this deal,’
Another wrote: I have done many good things in Grassroots football, but I will never reach the heights of Burton Joyce under 10s and what they have done here! I take my hat off to you
One joked: ‘You can’t see how many dads are there for the photo shoot!’
Gedling Eye has contacted Hooters for comment.
So parents are happy that their children are exposed at an early age to the blatant objectification of women? It’s not just a “sports bar”; it’s a place that promotes itself by having half naked young women as staff and it’s very name is American slang for a body part.
It’s disgraceful that the club is so desperate for money that they would entertain for a moment this type of company as an acceptable donor.
Agree Ruth but as long as the Dads get to have their “Bantu” apparently the message to the male children that women are sexual objects who serve food is fine.
Why haven’t some of the mums complained?
Bad idea full stop. Sponsored by cross between a pub and a peep show. This is the only sponsor available? Really?
Couldn’t write it.
This gives young boys the message that objectifying women is normal and acceptable. It is a damaging and awful idea.
Clearly – the comments above are from people who have never been to Hooters
It is a ‘Franky & Benny’s ‘ type of American style restaurant and yes the girls are dressed exactly as most girls are dressed when they go out on the town
The staff (mainly girls) are very professional – they are very pretty – and it is a good place to go for a burger etc
It is not at all taking advantage of anyone – including the girls
My grandson had his picture taken with a couple of girls there and he loved the experience (We all went as a family and it was great)
Good luck to Burton Joyce under 10’s for this fantastic achievement !!!