Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club are providing all of their players and officials with branded water bottles in an attempt to stop single use water bottles being used at games and training.
The idea came to chairman Ian Palmer while he was watching a documentary about England Ladies Cricket Team, who have put a similar policy in place.
After discussing it with the committee, the Cricket Club put out an appeal on Facebook asking whether any business would be willing to sponsor approximately 100 sports bottles either free of charge or at a minimal cost.
They were contacted almost immediately by local couple John and Hilda Longley who said they would be willing to cover the full cost of producing 100 re-useable sports bottles, branded with NACC badge and the logo and name of their fledgling company Unwind Lodges (www.unwindlodges.co.uk), two lovely lodges located at Bockenfield Park, Northumberland, a short drive away from Alnwick and the coast.
The bottles were delivered by John just in time for the start of the season, and are currently being given to all players at which stage they will be asked not to use single use water bottles at the ground.
The club’s commercial and marketing manager Valerie Palmer said, “As a self-funding cricket club we are always very grateful to our sponsors.
“We could not do it without people like John and Hilda coming forward, so would like to say thank you and welcome them as the latest club sponsor”.
Any business wishing to discuss sponsorship or partner opportunities with the Cricket Club should contact Valerie at [email protected].