Money doesn’t grow on trees but Scotland’s U16 girls found income in herbs as they recently secured support from R&G Herbs to bring their sponsorship campaign total to over 10k.
R&G Herbs, a third generation family business that supplies fresh cut culinary herbs across the UK, handed hefty backing to the girls, enough to splash their company logo across the front of the squad’s kit. The company is based in Surrey, so what’s the connection?
Hockey roots run deep, R&G Herbs managing partner, Mathew Prestwich explained: “I was a goalkeeper for England and Great Britain at U16, U18 and U21. I had to retire from the game when I was 23 due to a back injury, but I still love it and want to support the sport.”
Prestwich heard of the sponsorship opportunity through Scotland’s U16 goalkeeper Jennifer Johnston, who wrote him a letter asking for support. Prestwich says he is all too aware of the costs involved in playing sport, especially at international level.
He added: “I was lucky enough to tour Australia and Malaysia at 16 with my school and remember fondly the cake sales and car washing to make money; it takes a lot of work to raise enough funds.”
While the overall figure of 10k is good going, this amount only covers a third of costs for a year’s programme at national U16 level. The girls’ annual programme runs up a bill around £30,000, of which a whopping 84% is mostly paid by parents. Scottish Hockey and the squad hope sponsorship will take over as the main source of income.
Team manager Judith Davies said: “It’s a huge responsibility and financial commitment, or burden, for players’ parents. This is why any sponsorship is greatly appreciated. We would not be able to achieve our programme without every single bit of support from sponsors; a great big ‘thank you’ to all of them.”
Need for sponsorship grows yearly, more than you might think. Scottish Hockey performance manger Callum McLeod explained: “The exact same programme next year will raise in cost due to inflation, for example even down to the rise of travel and accommodation costs. We are continually trying to improve programmes for our national youth teams whilst on an ever decreasing budget.
“Scotland’s U16 programme must maintain growth in order to meet demands of competitive international play. We’ll need to source more sponsorship every year with our aim to win medals in Glasgow 2014.”
Davies clarified: “The bulk of the money will go for international training. We have an extraordinary programme for U16s this year including four games abroad which are crucial for development but come with high cost.”
Public funds received this year were less than previous years, influencing the girls to hit the sponsorship trail hard. Hats off to them, so far they’ve exceeded their target of £8,500.
The company BH interiors also saw good cause to give support, donating the second highest amount to the girls getting their company logo training top sleeves. The Glasgow-based company sells a vast range of modern interior products and specialises in all types of suspended ceilings, partitioning, wall linings and complete interior fit-outs.
It all adds up, the 10k spans companies and individuals willing to help the girls through personal sponsorship. Some local councils have also awarded both personal support and support for the squad.
Davies concluded: “It has been the first year we have had such vast help. Although, apart from money raised, the girls had to pay for all their training. It’s a pity because sport should be for the talented not for the privileged.”
