LEAMINGTON chairman Jim Scott believes a new five-year sponsorship extension with Phillips 66 is a sign of a united passion to take the club forward.
The energy manufacturing and logistics firm has agreed a five-year extension as Leamington FC’s Community Grass Roots and Stadium Partner. Phillips 66 and its fuel brand JET will continue to play a vital role in the running of the club, covering staff costs and ground maintenance, as well as other match, player and operational costs.
Included in the extended contract are a number of exciting partnership and community initiatives, while Phillips 66 and JET will sponsor the Brakes’ new disability team.
“We’re delighted with the decision from Phillips 66 to support our club for a further five years,” said Scott. “Phillips 66 and JET have already provided more than 400 football strips for players and are providing a year’s worth of fuel for the club’s minibus, saving our club hundreds of pounds.
“We’re an ambitious club with 26 teams and a fantastic stadium, but none of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners. It’s not just the financial support that makes a difference, it’s the fact that Phillips 66 genuinely cares for the club and its future.
“This was very evident at our ‘Club Clear Up’ Day, when the volunteers made a sterling effort to get our long list of jobs completed. It would have taken our small team weeks to undertake the work.
“Now the grounds are looking ready for all the training sessions, fixtures and events that take place here annually.”
Long-term commitment
Mary Wolf, managing director of Phillips 66 UK Marketing, said: “Our continued support of Leamington FC reflects our long-term commitment to this region. Although we will be relocating our UK Marketing office to join our commercial group in London at the end of the year and Phillips 66 will no longer have offices in Warwick, our JET fuel brand will continue to have a strong presence throughout Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands.
“We’re delighted to see the club go from strength to strength with its recent promotion to the Vanarama National League North and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, defeating a young Wolves team in the final. With the club recently given the go ahead to develop a new 5,000-capacity stadium in partnership with Warwick District Council, there’s definitely a lot for Brakes players and supporters to be excited about!”
The community element was highlighted by a two-day ‘Club Clear Up’ at the end of June, when 24 Phillips 66 employees volunteer their time for a host of tasks including cleaning all pitch-side advertising boards, cleaning all 250+ seats in the stands, sweeping and clearing all gangways and paths inside the stadium, mowing and strimming the car park area, clearing out the groundsman’s hut and preparing an area for new fencing behind the scoreboard.
Another element of the extended contract will see Phillips 66 and JET sponsor the Brakes’ new disability team, providing a brand new kit for its players.
The Leamington FC Disability Team plays in the Premier Elite League, the top tier of the Birmingham Ability Counts League (BACL), a three-league system.
The team currently has eight members aged 17 to 21. Players have a range of conditions including autism, learning difficulties and mental health problems. Currently all the players are students at Warwickshire College, but membership is open to the wider community and new members are always welcomed. Training takes place on Mondays from 4.15pm to 5.30pm at Warwickshire College.
On the pitch, Paul Holleran’s Brakes head to Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday and then meet a Coventry City XI in their final warm-up game at the Phillips 66 Stadium on Wednesday.
