With Wivenhoe Regatta still yet to grace our estuary shores, surely this must mean that it is time for… the start of the new football season?
Cripes.
Close, but no big fat Chairman’s cigar (except that Chairman Karl up at Broad Lane doesn’t look like your stereotypical cigar smoker.) Nope, the season doesn’t get underway proper until 13th August, although there are a number of pre-season friendlies coming up.
In preparation for another season of triumphant struggle and punching above its weight in the glory that is the Ridgeons Premier League, the Dragons are raffling off the opportunity to have a local company name displayed on the back of the home and away shirts for the 2011 / 12 season.
It’s a marketing idea that Essex boy Sir Alan would no doubt be proud of. It is certainly worthy of the £50 punt to take part. Any local organisation that takes out a pitch side banner or player sponsorship for £50, will then be entered into the shirt sponsorship draw.
A prize draw with a difference will be taking place on 31st July. Up for grabs is:
“First Prize: Your name or logo on the back of the First Team shirts plus a full page advert with our match day programme plus a logo on our official website plus 2 season tickets to all home league games for the up and coming 2011/12 season.
Second Prize: Full page advert within the programme.
Third Prize: Company Logo on the Clubs Official Website.”
Application forms for the sponsorship can be downloaded over here.
Keeping with the optimism and I hear the Broad Lane Future project is back on track once again. You may remember how the mystery Mr X and his £1.4m was reported to be in doubt last month. @TheGazette reported this story, leading many (including me) to believe that the deal was dead.
Not so.
A slight bit of confusion behind the scenes (which I am hopeful of clarifying this weekend) and it seems that The Gazette was fed false information under rather murky circumstances.
An incredible amount of hard work has been going on behind the scenes over the summer. Mr X and his £1.4m is still very much up for grabs, as long as the community comes on board with the scheme.
I have expressed concern as to exactly how this can be registered. The feedback I am receiving from the Football Club echoes this concern, but it is attempting to be addressed. Communication has been poor, but it is hoped that this will be improved over the coming weeks.
A good starting point to register an interest in the future of Broad Lane would be to attend the pre-season charity match against an Arsenal Celebs team taking place this Sunday.
“The game will be part of a joint family day organised by Wivenhoe and Arsenal to raise money for a selection of charities including the Sports Charity Trust, Football In The Community as well as regeneration funding for Wivenhoe’s ground and training facilities, as well as Arsenal’s charity partners.”
The gates open at Broad Lane at midday, with a 3pm kick-off. This is being run as very much a family day out with plenty of activities lined up ahead of the game. Tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children - or even half this price if you get a move on and buy them in advance from the Post Office along the High Street.
Live the dream…