ST. JOHN’S, N.L. –
An unusual advertising deal paid off for Newfoundland and Labrador as a small northern England soccer club wearing the province’s name on their jerseys faced off Tuesday against one of the best-known teams on the planet.
The province is sponsoring the Barrow AFC soccer team, a fourth-tier outfit from Barrow-in-Furness whose banner year earned them a match against top-tier titans Chelsea FC in the race for the English Football League cup.
The Barrow team hit the pitch Tuesday in jerseys emblazoned with Newfoundland and Labrador’s name and website, visible to more than 38,000 fans in Chelsea’s home stadium in North London, and countless others who tuned in to watch streams and broadcasts from major networks.
“Chelsea are one of the biggest Premier League clubs in England, which basically means they’re one of the biggest football …