Gifts for a winning team have a timing problem: the celebration happens on the evening of the deciding match, but almost anything that lasts takes a few days. So split it into two parts. On the night, the moment is what counts; the keepsake comes later, at the end-of-season party or the first training session in the new league.
On the night itself: what works straight away
The night of promotion or the title doesn't need anything bought, just a little preparation. You can plan these ideas without looking as if you were sure of winning:
- A banner with the club name and season, unrolled only after the final whistle.
- A cake in club colours waiting in the clubhouse, which will also soften a defeat if need be.
- The club's youth teams form a guard of honour at the exit and high-five the players.
- A photo with everyone who was part of the season, including injured players, team staff and drivers.
- Shirts saying “Promoted” or “Champions”: some teams have them printed in advance and only unpack them if they win. If you are superstitious, order them afterwards.
Gifts for a winning team: what lasts
Memories of a promotion or a league title grow more precious over the years. Good choices are a framed team photo with the final table, a shirt or hoodie with the season and the achievement for everyone, and a book with the whole team in it.
The book of the title-winning season
A Flashbook has a double-page spread for the league table, a special moment and the match of the season, in other words exactly the match where it was all decided. Everyone gets their own double-page spread with two photos and their answers, and the team awards record who shaped the season. One book costs €24.90, €22.90 with 3 or more teams from your club in one order and €19.90 with 5 or more. The title and questions can be adapted, including to your sport; you will find pages for individual sports in the sports team yearbook overview.
How long does a book take after promotion?
Longer than until the party that same evening. After your enquiry, everyone answers the questions on their phone and uploads two photos, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays a WhatsApp update shows you who is still missing. Once all the answers are in and all the books are paid for, the books reach you 5 to 7 working days later. So hand the book over at the end-of-season party, the club's annual celebration or the start of the new season.
Who pays for the shirts and the book?
Often the team kitty, the club or a sponsor who shares in the success. After promotion, ask the businesses that already support the team: their logo fits on the shirts, and a Flashbook has up to 4 sponsor pages, each a full page and included in the price. Otherwise, everyone pays for their own book via a payment link, or one person pays for everyone by invoice.
A league title gift for the coach
The coach laid the groundwork for the success but rarely gets anything of their own. A framed photo of the deciding match signed by everyone and a thank-you in front of the team both work well. You will find wording in our guide Thank-you messages for a coach.
Combining the promotion party and the end-of-season party
If promotion is decided early, combine the promotion party with the end-of-season party. Then there is time for gifts, awards and a speech, and nobody has to think of everything on the night of the match. Ideas for the programme, team awards and speech are in our end-of-season party ideas.