Lander & Rogers’ corporate transaction team recently advised FC32 in its strategic acquisition of Cobh Ramblers FC, a storied Irish football club known for its commitment to player development. This deal marks a pivotal step in FC32’s mission to build a global network of clubs focused on nurturing talent pipelines across men’s, women’s, and youth teams.
Founded in 1922 and based in Cobh, County Cork, Cobh Ramblers FC has rich history and a longstanding reputation for fostering local talent within the League of Ireland, including the likes of Irish and Manchester United legend Roy Keane. With FC32’s ownership, the club will focus on expanding its reach, including the formation of a Senior Women’s team.
FC32 is a global multi-club ownership group of operators dedicated to developing player talent and unlocking potential across its portfolio. Founded by seasoned sports executives, FC32 focuses on building robust talent pathways and fostering both men’s and women’s football programs. With a vision for long-term impact, FC32 aims to cultivate high-performance environments within its clubs worldwide, prioritising community engagement and sustainable growth.
Paul Francis, FC32’s Co-Founder and CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We’re excited to welcome Cobh Ramblers into the FC32 family. This club has a proud heritage, and we’re committed to building on that foundation to help players and the community reach new heights through our focus on player development and high performance.”
Deanna Brown, FC32’s President and Co-Founder, emphasised that “the community’s support is vital, and we look forward to accelerating growth while honouring the club’s rich tradition.”
Paul and Deanna add that: “Working with Jared and the Lander & Rogers’ team has been invaluable, providing us with peace of mind on even the most complex and demanding acquisitions. Their expertise in M&A and sports law, combined with their international legal network, has been integral in helping us achieve our objectives. In particular, Jared’s commercial and practical advice, combined with his ability to cut through complex issues, is standout and he has quickly become a trusted adviser to our fund and key member of the FC32 acquisition team.”
Jared Smith, partner at Lander & Rogers and lead advisor for the transaction, stated, “We are thrilled to continue to support FC32 as they build a player-first platform through the acquisition of multiple clubs around the world. The recent acquisition of Cobh Ramblers highlights FC32’s commitment to community-centred player development and supporting the Woman’s leagues, which resonates with our own firm’s values.” He added, “At Lander & Rogers, we specialise in guiding clients through the intricacies of the sports and leisure sector, both on and off the pitch, which is critical in achieving successful outcomes for investors, particularly in their strategic sales and acquisitions. Our specialist offering combines legal experts who can navigate deal dynamics as well as the commercial and legal realities facing sports administrators and operators, through our M&A and Sport and Leisure practices. When we combine this specialist knowledge with our extensive international network, we ensure we can seamlessly support our client’s global objectives in the sports and leisure sector”.
This is the second acquisition that Jared and the Lander & Rogers’ team has advised FC32 on, the other being the recent acquisition of an ownership stake in Austrian club SKN St. Pölten.
Alongside Jared, the Lander & Rogers’ team advising FC32 on its M&A and sports law needs, included Douglas Brown, Amelia Lynch and Simon Merritt. The Landers team also coordinated local Irish counsel RDJ, led by Bryan McCarthy, to provide FC32 with a seamless legal offering on this acquisition.
In other notable deals in the sport and leisure sector, Lander & Rogers recently advised Wollemi Capital Group on its majority investment in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and motorsports consortium Racing Australia Consolidated Enterprises Ltd (RACE) on its acquisition of Supercars Championship from Archer Capital.
