Four County Cricket Clubs Announce New Partnerships

Following the commence of the 2011 domestic campaign, four of the first-class English cricket counties have unveiled new sponsorship deals.

Local conserve producer Tiptree has agreed a partnership with Essex County Cricket Club (CCC) that will see the West Stand at the team’s Ford County Ground renamed the ‘Tiptree Stand’ for the next three years.

Ian Thurgood managing director of Tiptree stated: “After 400 years, cricket remains essentially all about preparation, commitment and teamwork; factors that are equally important to us at Tiptree; cricket has the ability to inspire and Tiptree welcomes the opportunity to give support to our home county team.”

Surrey CCC have also forged a new three-year partnership, with the Jardine Lloyd Thompson group, who become the official sponsor of the club’s youth cricket programme and County Age Group (CAG) scheme.

Under the terms, the company’s logo will appear on the shirts worn by every child that plays in the CAG scheme while Jardine Lloyd Thompson will also sponsor an award for Surrey’s first-team Friends Life Twenty20 player of the season.

Duncan Howarth, chief executive of UK Employee Benefits Group at Jardine Lloyd Thompson commented: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Surrey. These are exciting times for the club, with a mixture of youth and experience on the field and a new commercial focus off it.”

Meanwhile, accountancy firm Smith Cooper has renewed its sponsorship of Derbyshire CCC for the 2011/12 season, retaining its 12-metre sign on the balcony of the Gateway Centre Cricket Hall, featuring the Smith Cooper logo, as well as rights to advertise in match day programmes and on the club website, and sponsorship of the Derbyshire Boundary Club’s luncheons.

Stuart Peck, a partner at Smith Cooper, said: “Smith Cooper has supported Derbyshire County Cricket Club for many years now and we are delighted to be able to extend our support this season.”

Finally, another accountancy firm, Probiz, has secured an agreement with Lancashire CCC to become an official partner of the team strengthening the company’s already healthy ties in the sport. The Probiz logo will appear on the hover-cover at Lancashire’s Old Trafford home ground throughout the 2011 season under the terms of the deal.

Feisal Nahaboo, founder of Probiz, stated: “It is a dream come true to wake up and know our brand is endorsed by one of the most famous county clubs in England, based at one of the most iconic names in sport, Old Trafford. We look forward to working with the club and fans in years ahead.”