mfc Foundation will appear on Middlesbrough’s shirts this weekend when Boro take on Bristol City at the Riverside, with FDJ United donating the front-of-shirt sponsor space to the club’s affiliated charity to raise the profile of its community work. The change follows a recent kit oddity noticed when David Strelec briefly wore an under-21 sponsor shirt after a misprinted second strip at St Andrew’s. Published 2: 00 PM ET on March 14, 2026.
Why Mfc logo will appear on the Boro shirt
The front-of-shirt sponsor space normally occupied by Unibet will be donated for the match so the MFC Foundation logo is displayed across the first team’s shirts. FDJ United, the parent company of Unibet, has provided the sponsor space to spotlight the Foundation’s life-changing programmes across Teesside, including Neurological Football sessions for people living with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions.
Supporters first noticed a shirt discrepancy when striker David Strelec changed into a misprinted second shirt at half-time during the trip to Birmingham City, which briefly showed the under-21 sponsor Utilita instead of the first-team sponsor. This weekend’s planned swap is intentional and aimed at using matchday visibility to connect more people with the Foundation’s services.
Immediate reactions
Adrian Wrigley, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease over four years ago, described the impact of the Foundation’s sessions: “From diagnosis, I was a bit apprehensive about what my future held. I ended up losing my job due to it. I had some big lows. I shut myself off. But since joining this group I realised the mental stimulation you get from talking to others is invaluable. ”
Charlotte Dinsdale, head of the Foundation, said: “Once again, we’re incredibly grateful to FDJ United for their support. They’ll know how much it means to us, but it’s important others know it too – support like this genuinely makes a difference. By raising the profile of the Foundation, we’re able to reach deeper into our communities and connect with people who might be going through challenging times and don’t yet know where to turn. Our aim is always to inspire hope and inspire confidence, but we can’t do that alone. We’re truly thankful to FDJ United for giving us the opportunity to have our name proudly displayed on the front of the Boro shirt. ”
Sam Mead, UK General Manager of FDJ United, commented on the partnership and the decision to donate the front-of-shirt space: “We are proud of our long-standing and deeply supportive relationship with Middlesbrough FC and the club’s Foundation. The Foundation’s incredible work across the North East is not only inspiring but vital to the community. FDJ United is delighted to once again donate our front-of-shirt space for both the women’s home fixture against Loughborough Lightning [last weekend]. ”
What’s next
Matchday visibility will be used to drive awareness of the Foundation’s programmes and encourage people who may benefit from support to come forward. Club and charity figures expect the one-match front-of-shirt placement to help deepen community reach and to highlight the neurological football sessions that give participants vital social time alongside exercise. Watch for further charity-led activations tied to the shirt appearance and for engagement from players and participants on matchday that underline the role the mfc Foundation plays in local support services.
