SEVEN, the Ipswich-based transport and property group, has agreed a major sponsorship deal with Ipswich Hockey Club. The total package is worth around £15,000 for this season.

SEVEN, the Ipswich-based transport and property group, has agreed a major sponsorship deal with Ipswich Hockey Club. The total package is worth around £15,000 for this season.

The Seven sponsorship involves the support of a number of areas in the running of the club including funding for a brand new designer kit, a 17-seat minibus and a VW golf car to assist in the travel arrangements for the players. Seven has also arranged support advertising from local businesses to transform the home ground at Tuddenham Road in Ipswich. Seven has also made funds available to help with the overall running costs of the club, which have increased significantly now both first teams are playing National League hockey.

The new kit has arrived from Kukri, the prestigious sportswear suppliers, with whom the club have a new one-year contract deal. Initially five new kits have been ordered for the senior ladies and men's teams but with the intention of extending the Seven branding across all Ipswich Hockey Club teams by January 2006.

The 17-seat minibus has been supplied by Chassis Cab, the DAF and LDV main agent in the region, for the club's use travelling to away matches. With both first teams now playing in the English National League following the men's promotion last year, this was felt to be an essential part of the club's development.

Seven have also provided a car to assist with match-day travelling.With the men's first choice goalkeeper, Under-18 England international George Pinner, now based at Nottingham University, a car was essential to assist him in travelling to the matches at weekends. George as a result was delighted to be able to re-sign for Ipswich.

As part of the overall package, Seven are assisting through the support of commercial and financial matters ensuring the club maximise the potential revenues available. To date 40 prominent local companies have offered support with perimeter advertising around the pitch thereby helping to raise the profile of the club. Again support from Signs Express has proved invaluable.

Roy Dunnett, Chairman of Seven, commented: “We became aware that Ipswich Hockey Club needed some assistance with the funding of the club. With the Seven businesses headquartered in Ipswich we already support a number of local sporting activities such as Ipswich Town FC, Suffolk Rugby and local amateur football teams. Nationally we sponsor Seat Motor Sport UK racing team in the British Touring Car Championship series. We were therefore delighted to come up with a comprehensive support package for our local hockey club.

“With Ipswich Hockey Club's ladies team already extremely successful in the top flight division and the men's team being newly promoted to the National League, we saw the opportunity of creating a single identity through promoting the unified IHC brand and for all the teams to become a substantial force on the national hockey stage'.

Ipswich Hockey Club's Emma Millar said: “There is an air of excitement within the club that bigger and better things are on the horizon. With the new Seven sponsored kits we now have and all the rest of the positive things happening about the place, we are getting ourselves prepared for what will hopefully be a successful season for the entire club.”