Dover Athletic sign "five-figure" sponsorship deal with SeaFrance

Wednesday 01st August 2007

Dover Athletic Football Club is delighted to announce that SeaFrance Dover-Calais ferries will be the club's new main sponsor for the 2007-2008 season.

The five-figure sponsorship deal includes the renaming of the ground as 'The SeaFrance Crabble Stadium'.

SeaFrance's sponsorship represents a significant deal for the Ryman League Division One South club and director Roger Knight has expressed his excitement at the tie-up with such a high profile company.

"I am delighted with the new sponsorship agreement,” Mr Knight told www.doverathletic.com.

“Over the past few years I have discussed with SeaFrance the possibility of sponsorship, Sarah (Staughton) has always been very supportive and to finally agree terms as our main sponsor is a massive boost for the club.

"We are very much looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with SeaFrance, who expressed a wish to keep 'Crabble' within the stadium name – this links the new sponsors to our traditional home name.

"Over the coming weeks, prior to the league season, we will be changing signs to include the SeaFrance brand. We will also be working on cross-channel events such as Dance-to-France and meet the manager and players."

SeaFrance Head of Marketing, Sarah Staughton added: "We are very excited about this sponsorship deal with Dover Athletic Football Club.

“SeaFrance wants to work more closely with the Dover community and help the club to regain its position back in the Conference League (last time was 2001-2002 season) in a few years time.

"With Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare now working with the club we can see great potential for the future, especially with the community based youth projects which we hope will allow us to forge our position as an integral part of the local community."

The deal means the SeaFrance name will appear on the first-team home and away kits, club programmes, publications, marketing material, advertising perimeter boards and www.doverathletic.com.

The exciting news was announced prior to the Crystal Palace friendly on Tuesday evening, when the deal was signed on the pitch and the new first-team kits were unveiled to supporters.

Whites showed off their new red away kit against Palace, complete with the SeaFrance logo. The new home strip is, of course, the traditional white and black.

Mr Knight added: "The kits were received well and I know Jacetts are working hard to get replicas in the Club Shop urgently. You can place your orders with Joe Lowney."
(joe.lowney@doverathletic.com or 01304 241574)


Article courtesy of www.doverathletic.com