Local businesses and our MP Phil Wilson are getting behind a campaign which will see Newton Aycliffe FC’s ground’s name up for grabs!
Aycliffe, in the Ebac Northern League first division, want to increase links with the local business community and has drawn up a range of new options for the 2014-15 season.
The name of its prized asset – its stadium, one of the Northern League’s youngest grounds – is available to firms who buy into the scheme. Businesses are asked to buy a ‘ticket’ for just £100, with the winner drawn to get exclusive naming rights to Moore Lane Park.
There will also be runner-up prizes of pitchside perimeter advertising boards (worth £300) as well as match and matchball sponsorship packages worth up to £100. It means every business buying a ticket will win something in return at least equal to the amount of its investment.
The initiative is backed by our MP Phil Wilson and local business leaders including Finley Structures Managing Director John Finley, Stiller Warehousing and Distribution boss Paul Stiller, SCH Site Services MD Gary Finley and Kerina Clark, Manager of the Xcel Centre and Chair of the Aycliffe Business Park Community.
Finley Structures, which is currently working on the nearby Hitachi site for Shepherd Construction, provided the steel for a new stand at Moore Lane Park three years ago enabling the club to gain promotion to the Northern League first division.
Mr Finley said: “I think this is a fantastic initiative and a great way for businesses to support their local football club, and also get something for their money at the same time. We’ve always been big supporters of the club and it’s important for local firms to do their bit.
“Aycliffe’s success in recent years has been phenomenal, but with that success comes the added expense of running a club at a top non-league level, and I’ve always been hugely impressed by the army of volunteers who give up their time to help run it.
“Supporting local sport is nice to do, but there is also great satisfaction from investing a little and play ing your part.”
Phil Wilson, the club’s President, said: “From a business point of view this is a no-brainer. We’re asking firms to donate a nominal amount of money, but they get something in return for that investment regardless of whether they win the rights to naming the ground or not.
But if they win it’s a fantastic opportunity for a local firm to increase awareness of their company to a big regional market.”
Aycliffe firm, Ebac, manufacturers of de-humidifiers and freezers, have seen the benefit of investing in local sport by sponsoring the Northern League.
There are a number of other corporate packages available with Aycliffe, including shirt sponsorships. Chairman Allan Oliver, who runs a concrete reinforcing business, said: “This is a critical time of the year for Northern League clubs and we’re always looking for ways of engaging more with the local business community. We think this gives firms a great chance to get involved without breaking the bank – there’s a top prize up for grabs, but every business which buys in is guaranteed to win something.
“Our kits are currently available for sponsorship, and they enable firms to increase brand awareness to a wide audience across the whole of the North, with our team travelling to well-known clubs in the Tyneside, Wearside, Teesside and Cumbria areas as well as in County Durham.”
Firms who take out shirt sponsorship and pitchside perimeter advertising boards at Aycliffe are automatically entered into the stadium rebranding draw. To get involved with the club, call General Manager Dan Lewis on 07581 784726 or email djl@thesoccerfactoryltd.co.uk
