Spartans and sponsors back late knight's charity

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Blyth Spartans have teamed up with one of their sponsors and The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to launch a unique partnership.

The Spartans are now sporting personalised new training kit bearing the logo of the late footballing knight's regional cancer charity thanks to legal services company Quantum Elite.

Founded by Sir Bobby in 2008 after a request for help from his oncologist, the charity raises funds to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer. Current projects funded within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust directly benefit patients from across the North East and Cumbria and also contribute significantly to international efforts and research into fighting cancer.

Spartans manager Tom Wade is pictured with Liz Luff from the The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Quantum Elite's Brian and Lissa Delf with the newly branded kit after it was presented to the Premier Division club at Croft Park.

Wade said: "I was lucky enough to meet Sir Bobby on a couple of occasions and he was a great inspiration to me. Thanks to the generosity of Quantum Elite the opportunity arose to work with Sir Bobby’s Foundation in both providing excellent new kit for the squad but also promoting the fine work which the Foundation undertakes."

Quantum Elite's Lissa Delf said: "As a team Quantum Elite wanted to continue to sponsor Blyth Spartans having sponsored the playing shirts for several years, but we also have a strong belief in supporting local charities. The opportunity to link with both of these causes was first brought to our attention by Spartans manager Tom Wade.

"When Tom mentioned the potential to work not only with the club but also to raise awareness of the amazing work undertaken by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation we were greatly interested. Most people these days have had their lives affected by cancer, whether personally or someone close to them.

"To show our support for the Foundation is of great importance to my co-director Brian and I and everyone at Quantum Elite. We are fully committed to backing it in any way we can while, at the same time, showing our grassroots football club that we are still committed as sponsors."

Liz Luff from the charity is delighted with the support from the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight club and the sponsor.

Luff said: "We’re very grateful to Blyth Spartans for choosing to wear our logo on their training kit. We appreciate such a well known and respected club thinking of us. We receive tremendous support from within football and never take that for granted.

"It’s certainly something Sir Bobby found very touching and it’s important to us. It also means a great deal to have been invited along to Croft Park to talk to the players about the work of the charity and I know the club has plans to support us further."

She added: "Our thanks to everyone at Blyth and to Quantum Elite for supplying the training kit. We hope it brings the club good luck this season."

Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie launched the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation after a request for help from Professor Ruth Plummer. Sir Bobby, who said he would give up a year of his life to lead the charity, described it as "like being at the helm of a team again" - his last and greatest team – and always said ‘when’ not ‘if’ cancer is beaten.

To make a donation, view messages of support, or for more information, visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Charitable Funds Office, Peacock Hall, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP.

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