Topic: Club sponsorship (Read 2940 times)

forester123 · « **on:** December 27, 2012, 11:30:46 AM »

Hi all. I would really appreciate some advice..
I play for a village team and this year we have someone willing to give us money for new kit.
Our first team have done really well recently, being promoted twice in two years. Last season we started a second team for the first time and although results on the pitch were not successful the participation was good. The second team is mostly made up of youngsters and older 'social' players.
Our predicament is whether to use the money just for the first team or the second team aswell. With the sponsorship money our first team could be completely kitted out. team shirt, training top, polo top, playing trousers. Or should we use the money for playing shirts and polo tops for both sides.
I know it isn't the most exciting threads but it is a topic which has been bugging me.
Many thanks

Manormanic · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:35:38 AM »

If both sides are contributing equally to the financial status of the club (ie match fees, annual subs etc) then you need to make sure that both feel some benefit from the sponsorship - perhaps ask all of your first team players to chip in a bit for their kit so that you can at least buy shirts for the Second XI?

PedalsMcgrew · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:39:38 AM »

I think that you HAVE to give the second team guys a shirt at the very least. Like Manor says, they are contributing to the finances of the team as much as the first Xi players. What I would do is to use the money to provide a good subsidy for every players kit. Then they can all have shirts, training tops etc but at a much reduced cost. You will exclude the second teamers at your peril....

Manormanic · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:49:17 AM »

Exactly - we have had similar discussions at our place over the last few years as we have grown from two sides to pushing five. There are a few lads who feel that it should ALL be about the First XI to the exclusion of all else (we even had a situationa few years back where our First XI skipper refused to take a weakened side for the last game of the season when the Twos and Threes had either promotion or relegation games because he wanted to finish fifth NOT sixth) but that is a divisive attitude. Yes, you might give slightly more to your ones, probably on the understanding that it matters more if they all turn out in the same kit, but not to the exclusion of your other members.

After all, how many of those twos players are your colts managers, fixture secretaries, CWO's etc?

Johnny · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:51:36 AM »

It's nice to have an incentive to play ones. In the past I've been given free kit in the first team, but paid as a second teamer (still heavily subsidised)

mr_wickets · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:53:04 AM »

You could buy kit with the sponsor money and then sell it at a disconted rate to all players at the club. That way everyone gets a good deal - The sponsor gets their logo around the whole club, everyone gets kit at a good rate and money is coming into the club.

Manormanic · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:53:59 AM »

I suppose that is one point - you need to be clear as to what your sponsors expect from the money...

Buzz · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:04:08 PM »

the sponsors will want maximum exposure.
therefore kit as many of the shirts as possible in sponsored shirts and, as alluded to, get everyone to pay a subsidised rate.

use the money to invest in future success

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:11:46 PM »

IMHO even though I would benefit from first teams getting the most kit or cheapest etc, there is no way I'd want to play for a club that didn't do the best for the club.. yes your firsts are in theory your best players BUT it's a club.. not a group of people who pay their subs, turn up each week, do the fixtures, ground etc for just those 11 players. Without being rude, unless you are playing pro cricket for a county (senior level not junior) then you just ain't that good.

Not played ECB Prem yet but just below it and tbh, some of the ego's around there are amusing. Some people really fancy themselves. Yes they are 'good' club players but that's it, they are club players.. nothing else.

IMO get a grip and do the best for the club and give everyone the same benefit, don't give one team or person special treatment. Even though we all have overseas in our leagues I find it amusing that clubs feel the need to spend club money on them. There are enough good talented players around, it's a matter of attracting them with quality cricket and facilities. For the 5k it costs to have a decent overseas you could do a hell of a lot with that. If you invested in more quality coaching, more one to one stuff etc you might just might turn your average youth players into good adult players and your good adult players into 'really good' club players etc etc.

Surely that is the point of everyone trying ot improve clubs facilities etc etc. To improve the general standard of every player.

Ayrtek Cricket · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:14:21 PM »

We have 5 sides and it has to give the clubs unity, if the top teams are getting all the benefits then its unfair on the lower teams who all pay the same annual subs and match fees.

Use the money to buy kit for both and if players want tracksuits etc then get them to chip in for them as this is what we have done as iv been collared for sponsoring all 5 adult teams, 6 junior teams and 2 women's teams and the exposure is great to see when they are all wearing their shirts with the Ayrtek logo on them.

We increased subs by �10 and gave everyone a free shirt in return so that the club benefited and players got something tangible for the increase in costs that benefited them in the long run.

Ams4287 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:22:29 PM »

Yeah we have x4 Saturday, x2 Sunday and a whole host of Juniors. For me as some of the posts already your sponsorship whilst giving maximum exposure to the people putting the money in should be used to sustain the club. We 'encourage' the members to buy a shirt with the sponsors logo on it (especially 1st/2nds) and use the income to pay for grass roots development/facilities. It's a difficult one as unless you have a constant revenue stream (bar) you need to spend wisely, which unfortunately we don't.

If you spent all the money kitting the 1sts out you have to think of the message to the rest of the club-desire to win is important but elite ism can be at the detriment of the club.

PedalsMcgrew · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:38:40 PM »

I think the bottom line on this (which it is heartening to see everyone agreeing with) is that your second XI players are often the heartbeat of the club. They are the ones that make things happen, run the bar, do the pitch etc. If they are not worthy of kit to make them feel included then it's not a club that's going to attract anyone in the future and that means the club is going to struggle. For the long term future of your village team get everyone involved and make them feel part of something. If you do that well your team/s will go from strength to strength.

Village cricket is all about getting the community involved. The strongest village teams are usually the best supported....

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:40:47 PM »

elitisum will serve your club well for a few seasons while the main guys are still 'at their peak'. Once they start to fall away through moving away, injury or old age you will find your club is dead, you have a few hangers on who looked good while you were winning but suddenly are found out etc etc.

Like I've said before, it's a local club. Club means it caters for your best player down to the worst player. Yeah we all like to think we are awesome but everyone pays the same into the club so should get the same treatment by the club.

forester123 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:45:43 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. It has opened my eyes and you are all spot on. Would you suggest we order 24 playing shirts and 24 polo shirts? Do you have a main sponsor on your shirts? If so do you find it peels off in the wash. Would you suggest having the sponsor embroidererd on the sleeve instead?

Manormanic · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2012, 12:49:48 PM »

I wouldn't go for Polo shirts personally - you'll find that a lot of people never, ever bother to wear them...

Author Topic: Club sponsorship (Read 2940 times)

forester123

Club sponsorship

Manormanic

Re: Clun sponsorship

PedalsMcgrew

Re: Clun sponsorship

Manormanic

Re: Clun sponsorship

Johnny

Re: Clun sponsorship

mr_wickets

Re: Clun sponsorship

Manormanic

Re: Clun sponsorship

Buzz

Re: Club sponsorship

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club sponsorship

Ayrtek Cricket

Re: Club sponsorship

Ams4287

Re: Club sponsorship

PedalsMcgrew

Re: Club sponsorship

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club sponsorship

forester123

Re: Club sponsorship

Manormanic

Re: Club sponsorship