Paddy Power Unveils First-Ever Christmas Ad with a Comedic Nod to Football Fandom
Paddy Power has launched its inaugural Christmas advertisement. Featuring actor and presenter Danny Dyer, the ad humorously captures the highs and lows of football fandom through the lens of a father-son relationship.
A Heartfelt Ode to Football Fandom
The advert begins with Dyer gifting his son a football shirt on Christmas morning, uttering the poignant line, “Enjoy the gift of a football team…for life.”
From here, the ad humorously chronicles the emotional rollercoaster of being a football fan. As the son supports his beloved ‘United,’ viewers experience moments of joy and despair.
The narrative takes a satirical twist when Eddie Hearn, playing a wealthy football club owner, promises a turnaround for the struggling team. However, in a tongue-in-cheek reference to current football dynamics, the ad depicts the team’s league triumph stripped away due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) violations, leaving the son visibly frustrated.
A Multi-Generational Connection
The ad concludes with a touching yet humorous full-circle moment. Now an adult, the son gifts his own child a United football shirt with the same words his father once told him. The cycle of football loyalty continues, despite the comic disdain of the young son’s mother, who promptly bins the shirt.
The tagline, “A shirt’s not just for Christmas. It’s for life,” underscores the enduring emotional bond fans have with their teams.
A Unique Take on the Festive Season
Senior Marketing Manager Dan Oates said: “We wanted Paddy Power’s first ever Christmas Ad to truly resonate with football fans, but also be one that would entertain the nation and hopefully we’ve done that. Being a football fan is full of ups and downs, and we wanted to showcase this, whilst packing in as many nostalgic references and typical ‘Paddy Power’ moments of joy as possible. A huge thank you to the talent, teams, agencies, and partners who helped make the campaign possible.”
This festive campaign extends Paddy Power’s legacy of memorable advertisements. Earlier in 2024, Dyer starred in a Euro 2024 ad humorously touting England as everyone’s favorites, while a separate campaign featured Cristiano Ronaldo as a “super sub” for a hapless Sunday League team.
