Basingstoke Town FC pitches in with business networking (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Basingstoke Town commercial manager is set to host a business networking event

6:00am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Business By Richard Garfield

HE’S one of the newest additions to Basingstoke Town’s team – and Dean Coombs will be looking to hit the back of the net when it comes to business goals.

Dean, who is a brand manager for a leading clothing manufacturer, has been appointed as the commercial manager at the Camrose. He has been tasked with building the football club’s brand awareness and relationship with local businesses.

“I also want to build relationships with national businesses that are based in Basingstoke with a goal of bringing them on board as partners and sponsors,” said Dean, who is the son of Town’s legendary midfielder Billy Coombs. The former captain played for the club for 15 years and still holds the record for the most league appearances.

“Part of the reason why I want to do this is that my dad played here – I spent many a happy day of my youth watching my dad play on a Saturday,” said Dean.

“I’ve always been closely linked with the club and started helping them out a few months ago, getting our monthly business networking event up and running. And with my advertising and marketing background, chairman Rafi Razzak could see that there was an opportunity for me to bring something to the club.”

Clearly enjoying his new voluntary role at the club, Dean said: “I want the club to become a business hub for Basingstoke.

“I want it to be more than a company comes along and has an advertising board – I want all the sponsors and the football club to work together to pass on business and to help each other out so it becomes a sort of family, where everybody builds relationships.

“People can come along to the pre-match corporate dinners and enjoy the football, and also talk about business and opportunities they might be able to share between themselves.

“We can raise company brand awareness and PR locally around the town, and depending on what business people are in, they might be able to do things for the football club.”

A good example of this is where Dean has brought on board the head chef of The Sun Inn at Dummer.

He said: “Gordon Scott is going to come in on a Saturday and create a two-course a la carte meal for our pre-match corporate dinners.

“In return I am going to promote The Sun Inn where I can.

“We have put an advert in our programme where supporters can get 20 per cent discount off a meal at the restaurant, so we are helping him by trying to get some extra business.”

The Gazette has teamed up with Basingstoke Town to sponsor the monthly networking business events, with the first taking place on Friday, September 7, from midday.

“It’s a great opportunity for local businesses to come along and build relationships with other businesses,” said Dean. “The format is that it starts with an open networking session, and we supply a buffet.

“We also give the opportunity for one business to talk about themselves in-depth with a 10-minute presentation and then a representative from each company attending gets one minute to stand up and tell everybody about their business. It’s very relaxed and sociable and if people don’t want to speak they don’t have to.”