Magpies start "200 Club"

CHORLEY FC are offering businesses the chance to become the club’s main shirt sponsor for the 2012/13 season as part of a new initiative aimed at tackling the club’s financial problems.

The Magpies are launching an exclusive raffle for local businesses, called ‘The CFC 200 Club’, with the top prize on offer being a sponsorship package worth £10,000.

The winning company will have their company name emblazoned across the front of the Magpies’ home shirts next season.

In addition they will also receive four corporate season tickets for the season, an advertising board at the ground, adverts on the club website and in the matchday programme, and two personal appearances from manager Garry Flitcroft to help promote their business.

There will also be a number of runners-up prizes up for grabs, including tracksuit sponsorship, free season tickets, and advertising packages.

Tickets for the draw cost £200 each and the club is hoping to sign up 200 businesses to the raffle.

Manager Garry Flitcroft said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to raise their profiles and also help the club at the same time.

“We are one of the best supported clubs in non-league football and our average home crowds rose by 177 per cent last season – the biggest rise in semi-professional football.

“We regularly pull in crowds of 800 or more and some of our games last season attracted gates of 3,000-plus.

“Whoever wins this raffle is therefore guaranteed some fantastic exposure.

“For a donation of £200 you could win a sponsorship package worth £10k.”

Full details of the scheme are on the club website (www.chorleyfc.com).

Any companies interested in supporting the initiative are asked to call the club’s commercial manager John Derbyshire on 07966 308578.

Flitcroft added: “I really hope the business community will rally around us by supporting this initiative.

“One of the things that has pleased me the most over the last 12 months is the amount of people wearing Chorley shirts in the town now.

“It’s great to see so many kids wearing Chorley shirts and proudly supporting the football club.

“One lucky business could have their company name on the front of those shirts next season.”