Rainbow Ball: EFL & PUMA

The idea

In honour of LGBT History Month, the English Football League (EFL) and Official Match Ball partners, PUMA, unveiled the very first Rainbow match ball. This special ball was used by all 72 Clubs across Sky Bet Championship, League One, and League Two matches and the PUMA ORBITA Rainbow Ball design incorporated rainbow and progress colours, symbolising that football is for everyone, representing the League’s active support for inclusion throughout the game. Our brief was to create a short film showcasing the importance of the Rainbow Ball.

Bringing it to life

The EFL approached us with a clear directive: craft a headline video in support of their collaboration with PUMA and the unveiling of the inaugural Rainbow Ball for the 2024 LGBT History Month. We wanted real fans from the LGBT community to talk about what the Rainbow ball meant to them and why it is so important to have the conversation about tackling discrimination of any sort in football. We opted for a minimalist setup, allowing the contributors’ messages to take centre stage, with subtle nods to LGBT History Month and the Rainbow Ball. Shot in 4K resolution with cinematic lenses for added depth, this content was used across the EFL’s social channels and was broadcast on Sky Sports and ITV. With a tight turnaround of just two weeks, filming was condensed into a single day, followed by a week of post-production with edits delivered in multiple formats for social channels.