And finally…football club looks to cash-in on fans’ final whistle

The Yorkshire outfit has even used the famous ‘Football may not be a matter of life or death ‘ quotation from its legendary former boss Bill Shankly to market the scheme in a slick and emotive promotional video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75Pzb7_k1A

Shankly, who is better known for his association with Liverpool Football Club, once said: “Football isn’t a matter of life and death. It’s more important than that”, and the club known as the Terriers are keen to cash-in on their own fan’s similar fanaticism.

It says one million people in the UK have pre-paid funeral plans and follows a young supporter growing up as a Huddersfield Town fan until the poignant moment the floodlights dim and finally go out.

Bosses are hoping the scheme will allow the club to tap in to that boom in buy-now funerals where individuals can make their own arrangements and lock in the cost at today’s prices, paying up front or monthly.

The video also shows examples of football-themed funerals including a picture of a black and white striped coffin being carried by pall bearers wearing Newcastle United shirts.

In another shot, there’s a coffin decorated with images of lush green turf and a football.

The video says: “Football is a passion. We grow up living and breathing it. To be a true fan takes dedication. From kick off to final whistle we support our team through thick and thin.

“It takes planning. We prepare the good times and the tough. We dedicate our lives to one team. Why should it end there?”

The scheme is being planned with funeral business Avalon, whose business development manager Adam Fisher said: “Town are the first football club in the UK to do this, and probably first in the world.

“We wanted a club that was not too big and not too small and Huddersfield got it straight away.”

A Huddersfield Town-themed funeral costs £4,195 and includes a blue and white coffin or a traditional coffin draped with a Town shirt with the name and number of the deceased.

There will also be a football bouquet from the club and Town’s anthem Smile Awhile will be played at the service. For cremations, ashes can be scattered at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Fans can pay the cost monthly for up to 10 years.

Huddersfield commercial director Sean Jarvis said the Terriers Funeral Plan was offered as a service to fans who increasingly wanted a blue and white send off.

“While many funerals remain quite traditional some are increasingly becoming a celebration of life, and that includes sporting interests, and we are often asked if people can use our branding in one form or another,” he said.

“It’s still a bit of a taboo subject but there’s no reason why that should be. The only certain things in life are death and taxes and the sooner we start planning the better.

“Our commercial deal means the club receives a benefit from plans sold so even when Town fans pass on they can leave a small legacy to the club. This isn’t for everybody but it’s another service we can offer.”

For more details visit www.terriersfuneralplan.co.uk