Give club a try! (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Give club a try!
8:10am Saturday 30th June 2012 in Business By Richard Garfield
James Croker
THE director of rugby at Basingstoke Rugby Football Club has an off-the-field goal for the new season – attracting more local business support for the popular club.
While continuing as head coach – a position he has held since last year – James Croker is also keen to attract more businesses to back the club as sponsors.
James, whose role encompasses the commercial promotion of the club, said: “Basingstoke RFC is a club that is moving forward.”
James is looking forward to working with existing and hopefully new sponsors of the club.
He said: “Our existing sponsors are extremely loyal, dedicated and committed, including the Champion Group, who are our principal sponsor.”
James is keen to build on the club’s already strong business links in the Basingstoke community.
Currently, there are a range of sponsorship opportunities, including the club’s Diamond, Amber, Blue and Silver packages.
However, James is also open to a more flexible approach where, for example, a company can just have their name advertised on a billboard, or have it emblazoned on club tracksuits or T-shirts.
He believes that being a club sponsor will result in greater exposure in the local community for any organisation that gets involved in the club, which includes junior and adult sections.
He said: “We have 1,000 members here and we have up to 500 people coming to all our first team home games. Sponsors can host match day dinners, which are great networking opportunities.
“We want the business community to engage with us, and we aren’t putting a ceiling on how we can support them. If they require a player to attend one of their events, we’ll send one – it works both ways.
“They can also use our facilities here at the club to host corporate events and business lunches.”
Former tennis ace Tim Henman was a guest speaker at a packed fundraising lunch held at Stoke’s Down Grange clubhouse earlier this year, and James is keen to arrange similar successful events in future.
