Confectionery company Mars UK has announced a four-year partnership deal with the Scottish FA to campaign to encourage over 18s to play more football.

The deal will focus on the decline of adults playing football and will look to address this alongside the Scottish FC through various schemes and initiatives.

Mars is already working alongside the English Football Association having agreed to become the official supplier to the England team in October 2009 until the end of the World Cup in July before becoming a supporter of the team until July 2014.

Gordon Smith, Scottish FA chief executive, explained that the aim of the partnerships is to develop a long-term strategy that will encourage adults of all abilities to play football.

“Whether it’s returning to the game or playing for the first time. The relationship with Mars will extend even further: working jointly to ensure the fans have greater access and input to what we are sure will be an exciting new era. As we look forward to the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification campaign, we’ll be working jointly with Mars to get Scotland fans closer to the team.”

Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars Chocolate UK, said: “This is the single biggest announcement the Mars brand has ever made in Scotland. We’re huge football fans ourselves so we can’t wait to start working with the Scottish FA on some exciting new initiatives. Mars is committed to encouraging its consumers to lead a healthy, active lifestyle so partnering with the Scottish FA to inspire adults to play football gives us the perfect opportunity to do this. We are extremely proud to support the Scotland national team in their quest to reach Ukraine and Poland in 2012.”