Football club in Banbury gets largest ever sponsorship from local business

The Easington Sports Football Club has announced Banbury firm Hawkins Group of Companies, who have been the club's main First Team sponsor, has pledged a new £10,000 package of support for the FA Charter Standard Community Club.

Easington Sports Chairman Richard Meadows said: "We are fortunate that Hawkins Group of Companies has provided constant support over the last 10 years to help us to develop the ground at Addison Road, but a £10,000 contribution this year will really take the First Team forward.

"The increased costs of managing fixtures in the Hellenic Division combined with the loss of revenue from the clubhouse bar has meant the club has had to be more cautious with their support for the adult section this season.

Spectators will have seen the Hawkins logo on the first team shirts and around the ground for a number of seasons, but this expanded partnership will lead to further improvements on and off the pitch.

The company will now sponsor the away kit for all three adult men's teams as part of the new sponsorship.

Easington Sports has worked hard to ensure all girls and boys youth teams can return to grassroots football in a safe manner this summer. But this has proven more difficult for the adult section due to the age and size of the clubhouse, which poses a number of challenges in order to make the environment safe for spectators and players.

Part of the £10,000 investment will be used alongside Football Foundation Matchday funds to refurbish the changing rooms and toilet facilities to make it easier to maintain hygiene during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Meadows added: "We are so grateful that a prominent local family business is not just continuing to support us, but is in fact ramping up their commitment in these unprecedented times.

"The most we have ever been sponsored is £1,400 from one sponsor which makes this big news for us."

The Easington Sports FC's first team currently fields a side consisting of virtually all Banbury players, including seven players 22 years or younger, which fits in with the aims of the club.

Mr Meadows added: "Since all grassroots football for youth teams and the adult section has ceased and the restart of the season remains uncertain for clubs across the country this commitment from Hawkins Group of Companies is therefore most welcome.

"It will mean Easington Sports can look forward to a return to football with improved facilities and the knowledge they can continue to support the first team in the best ways possible as they look set for a testing end to the season in the new year."

The Hawkins Group, based in Thorpe Way, Banbury, is an expanding UK based construction business.

Mike Hawkins, the company's managing director, said: "We are very proud to be associated with Easington Sports as they have worked so hard to create a fantastic community club that provides opportunities for girls and boys to play youth football right through to adult football.

"As well as this financial package we are also keen to offer our support and expertise in other ways to help the adult sections, including the ladies section, manage the challenges ahead of them as they have found a return to football much harder.

"We will continue to work with Easington Sports to find ways to boost the profile of the first team so they can sustain their recent success in this higher standard of football, and will also look to financially support the ladies team next season."