イングランド4部リーグのポーツマスが14日、44歳の清掃員、ロブ・フィリップスさんと半年間の選手契約を結んだ事が明らかとなった。英紙メトロなどが報じた。
■「小さい時から応援し続けているクラブと契約できるなんて驚きだ」
44番の背番号に決まったフィリップスさんは、根っからのポーツマスファンであり、2～4部リーグのスポンサーで宅配ピザチェーンの「パパ・ジョンズ」が懸賞として掲げた「サポートチームと半年の選手契約を結ぶ権利」を獲得した。
同スポンサーの粋な計らいで入団会見も開かれ、フィリップスさんは次のように語った。
「小さい時から応援し続けているクラブと契約できるなんて驚きだ。選手たちも暖かく迎え入れてくれたし、正式にチームの一員に慣れた事を誇りに思う。44歳になったばかりだから、背番号は44番にした。これ以上の誕生日プレゼントはない」
これにより、ポーツマスは同スポンサーから2万ポンド（約340万円）の賞金を受け取った。フィリップスさんはチームの練習に半年間参加するほか、全選手のサイン入りシャツ、シーズン終了までのホームゲーム無料観戦チケット、スタジアムツアー、チームグッズ一式、1年間のピザ無料券も獲得。
公式に選手登録はされないが、クラブのマッチデイプログラムには、シーズン終了まで彼の名前が載るという。
【関連記事】
(2014年2月21日フットボールチャンネル「44歳の清掃員がサッカークラブと選手契約。入団会見も開催」より転載)
本田圭佑、ACミラン初ゴール
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