Alpari new Principal Sponsor of West Ham United

The agreement will see the association of Alpari companies worldwide become the club's new Principal Sponsor - including the Alpari logo on the front of the famous claret and blue shirt - from the start of the 2013/14 season.

Alpari ME DMCC is committed to supporting the regional sports industry and is the proud official FX partner of the UAFA Club Cup and the official sponsor of the GCC Champions League in the Middle East.

Alpari and West Ham United marked the signing of the new partnership with a live event on the Alpari trading floor. Sam Allardyce, Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis and Joe Cole competed against each other in a currency trading contest that brought the worlds of football and online trading together.

This three-year, multimillion-pound deal will see "Alpari FX Trading" feature on West Ham United's team kit and apparel. This adds to the existing naming rights of the Alpari Stand and branding at the Boleyn Ground.

The Alpari companies provide 207,000 global clients with a cutting-edge online trading service. Leading providers of the popular MetaTrader platforms, the companies have been loyal supporters of West Ham United since 2011 when they partnered with the club initially as an Official Sponsor.

The new agreement comes at a hugely exciting time for the east London club. Having returned to the Barclays Premier League this season, they have played their last eleven games in front of sell-out crowds.

Daniel Skowronski, Chief Executive Officer, Alpari (UK) Limited, commented: "Alpari is a leading global forex trading provider with significant growth ambitions. The Barclays Premier League is a truly global phenomenon with broadcast distribution now reaching in excess of 700 million households per season. Taking our partnership with West Ham United one stage further to Principal Sponsor was a logical step as we continue to build awareness for our products on the world stage."

Karren Brady, Vice Chairman, West Ham United, said: "We are enthused and excited to enter into this new partnership with Alpari. This landmark deal, along with a host of other significant strides forward our business has made recently, is yet further evidence of the growth we have witnessed and I can only see things getting better."

At today's contest, Kevin Nolan demonstrated that he's not just an excellent captain. He remained cool when the markets heated up and won the contest with a balance of GBP4,457 in virtual money. Kevin said, "I've never traded currencies before and I found it quite easy to understand how the trading platform works and how you place trades. Had I traded with my money, I would have done a bit more market research and I think I wouldn't have taken such big stakes. However, even with virtual money you feel your pulse racing and it was good fun."

As a prize, Alpari will donate GBP 5,000 in Kevin's name to the West Ham United Academy of Football, where the money will help young talents achieve more in football.