EH Smith Builders’ Merchants has extended its title sponsorship deal with the University of Birmingham Hockey Club which counts Olympic gold medalist Lily Owsley amongst its many star players.
The University of Birmingham Hockey Club is one of the most successful university hockey clubs in the country. The Ladies first team includes no less than nine members of the U21 England Hockey team currently playing in the Ladies Junior World Cup in Chile, including European u18 Hockey Championships medal-winning player Holly Munro. First team players Eddie Way and Jack Clee have been selected for the Men’s Junior World Cup which takes place later in December, in India.
Building on a successful partnership which began last season, the EH Smith brand is now proudly displayed on all ten of the men’s and ladies’ teams, including the two top teams which play in the Conference West and Investec Women’s Hockey League respectively – both top flight leagues.
The teams wear EH Smith-branded kit and the company displays its branded banners at home ground pitches and provide mugs, so that the teams can enjoy a proper cup of builders brew.
Club coach, Phil Gooderham, feels there are many opportunities ahead for the partnership. “We have a strong attitude for wanting to be the best, and every team throughout the club competes for a top three finish in their respective leagues. We look for the same commitment and determination in our sponsors and in all of these respects EH Smith is a fantastic partner for us.
“It is genuine in its desire to support the teams in their development and spur them on to greater success and in return we look forward to collaborating with the company on leadership building programmes which blend the two disciplines of business and sport, in ways that will benefit our players and its employees.”
EH Smith’s Commercial Director Darren Moles adds: “We were delighted with our first season as sponsors – and were keen to extend our commitment even further to all ten teams.
“The University of Birmingham is surrounded by our branches – from Stourbridge to the west, Longbridge to the south, Shirley to the east and Harborne, just a few minutes away from the campus. Our newest branch in Castle Bromwich will join the team when it opens in 2017 – and we look forward to another season of fantastic on-pitch performances and plenty of chances to inspire our employees, so that they can understand what a winning mindset can do in business as well as sport.”
