Archived News from June 2003
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STAGS GO LOCAL FOR NEW SHIRT SPONSOR
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STAGS GO LOCAL FOR NEW SHIRT SPONSOR
CHAD website, 17 June 2003 MANSFIELD Town announced today that local company Perry Electrical Ltd will be the club's new home shirt sponsor. Perry Electrical replace VK Vodka Kick, who sponsored both home and away shirts last season. And with two other companies already in talks about sponsoring the away shirts next season, Stags chairman Keith Haslam said total shirt sponsorship money would surpass that given by VK Vodka Kick. Perry Electrical will also sponsor boards and certain home games and, as part of the initial undisclosed two-year shirt deal, Perry Electrical managing director Andy Perry will also become an Associate Director of the club. In turn, Andy is hoping his sponsorship will help push the profile of his new offshoot company, Perry Property Maintenance, which will offer electrical, plumbing and security services to local people. "We are delighted to have Andy on board," said Mr Haslam. "He came to a number of games last season, home and away, and went from sponsoring games to being a guest in the boardroom. "He seems to have enjoyed it down here. He was a box holder at Sheffield Wednesday but is now looking to put his resources into the local club which is obviously great for us. "Some people might feel it a bad thing that we have lost a national brand in VK and moved to a local brand. "But I see this as a positive move as Perry Electrical is a local company employing local people - a company involved in our local community. "VK Vodka Kick were good for us and I hope we were good for them. But they have had a slight change in direction. They still want to sponsor us but I feel this new deal is a better long term tie for us. "We still get on with VK, there are no problems. They will still be putting some money into the club in other areas like boards and match sponsorships. "The message we are trying to get across is that we very much want to be part of the local community and this is part of that." West Bromwich-born Andy Perry (34) moved to Mansfield at the age of five and still lives in the area. He was an occasional visitor to Field Mill but was persuaded to get involved at Hillsborough through friends. However, he has been a Stags regular for the last two seasons when he has not been entertaining at Wednesday but has now decided to put his full support behind his local club and raise his company's profile in the local comunity at the same time. He sees this as an exciting time for his company, which he founded some 11 years ago. Based on Hermitage Lane, it moved into more spacious premises on Kings Mill Way two years ago. The main company, Perry Electrical Ltd, has always been a contractor, working for local authorities from Yorkshire down to Northamptonshire, and has also been heavily involved in the West Stand refurbishment. The company, which employs 40 people, added a Plumbing Division and a Property Management Division which sees enables it to buy, rent, and manage properties. But the latest venture will see it taking on smaller jobs in the local community from this summer with the launch of Perry Property Maintenance. "My interest in coming here on a regular basis began when I met Keith Haslam through business at a Wednesday game," said Andy. "The chance to sponsor the shirts came out the blue really. It wasn't offered to me, I just asked if they had anyone yet and then asked what sort of figure we would be looking at. "I met him again when I was at the ground helping as a parent on a High Oakham School visit with my lad and we got chatting again. He told me we may be able to help with the refurbishment work in the West Stand and it went from there. "I have always loved football and this chance to sponsor the shirts gave me a great opportunity to be associated with my local club. "Obviously we want to push our name within the local area which should hopefully work well for both parties. "I am really looking forward to the season. Everyone will be really up for it as there is now World Cup or European Championship this summer to leave everyone football-drained. I can't wait for the fixture list this Thursday." Mr Haslam said the negotioations for the away shirts were going well and a sponsor should be announced in the next two or three weeks. "Things are going well on the commercial side at the club right now. "Despite the results, most of our sponsors seemed to enjoy themselves last season which goes a long way to bringing them back and bringing in new faces. "Having the new Executive Room has made a difference and I feel everyone has had good value for money. "The Perry Electrical deal just shows how these things can grow. In two years Andy has gone from having a board advert to sponsoring games and then to being home shirt sponsor. "It's nice to see that sort of progression and means we must be doing something right! "We have come a long way in the last four or five years and, with a catchment area of some 400,000 people out there, we want to keep making progress. "We would like more local companies involved down here. It's nice to see regulars back but we'd like new ones too. It brings more energy on board. "There are a lot of good opportunities down here for companies to be introduced to other companies and do business to business with the common theme of football." The new home and away shirts will be officially launched at the Field Mill Open day on Sunday, 13th July. |
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