For the fifth year running, GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent hire company, has supported several sports clubs through its Youth Team Sponsorship scheme.
A total of seven teams across the country have benefitted from GAP’s sponsorship over the 2021/2022 season.
- Basildon Boys FC – under 10
- Blantyre Celtic 2012’s – under 10
- Cramlington United FC Panthers – under 14
- Crowborough Athletic FC – youth teams
- Farsley Celtic FC – under 16
- Poulton Victoria FC – under 8
- Thatto Heath Crusaders RFC – under 12
Throughout the last season, GAP sponsored each team up to the value of £1,000 and the teams were free to pick what the money was used for, if it helped the club and children in the team directly, allowing them to keep playing. This year, funding from GAP paid for a variety of home and away kits, training kits and tracksuits, raincoats, training equipment such as goals, cones, and balls and even entry fees into tournaments.
The hire company keeps in contact with each team throughout the year and was ecstatic to learn that this sponsorship had served each team incredibly well in many ways.
Basildon Boys and Thatto Heath Crusaders have both been able to expand their number of players to create a second team. Basildon now has 15 boys playing football in the under 10 team and Thatto Heath’s numbers increased from 25 to 40 rugby players in total.
Blantyre Celtic’s under 10 boys successfully played their first season of seven-a-side football and managed to host a club festival where, in the under 10 age group alone, over 300 kids from 24 different clubs joined in the fun. Crowborough Athletic now have over 200 boys and girls playing throughout the club allowing them to continue their philosophy of developing local talent and have even been able to allow some younger players have the chance of experiencing playing at a more senior level.
Cramlington United Panthers have felt very professional in their GAP branded training kits and have made it to the final of their League Cup. Farsley Celtic’s boys have now been playing together for 10 years, since they were six years old, and are doing well in a very competitive league within which they could still top the table as well as, so far, reaching the quarter final of their District Cup. Poulton Victoria were able to enter two competitions through GAP’s funding, the fourth division team reached the final in the first competition – managing to beat a top division team in the semi-final – and won their first ever trophy at their second tournament.
As a family owned and run business, this sponsorship scheme is very important to GAP and reflects many aspects of its culture, including integrity, passion and the obvious, teamwork.
Iain Anderson, Joint Managing Director at GAP, commented: “I believe playing in a team teaches children several important skills needed throughout life, and not just for in the work environment. Playing sport and being part of a team helps children be more sociable, confident, learn more about themselves and even creates a sense of accountability.
“With the rising costs across many aspects of daily life, we are delighted that we can help to reduce the price tag that often comes with sports participation. It is fantastic to hear how well the teams have thrived and even grown throughout the least season – keep up the good work, boys and girls!”
All these teams joined GAP’s Youth Sponsorship scheme by sending in an application and were successful in the draw that happens every year. If you have a youth team in mind that could benefit from GAP’s funding, please contact marketing@gap-group.co.uk requesting an application form to be included in the draw for the 2022/2023 season. Deadline day for application forms is Friday 22nd April 2022 and successful teams will be notified following this.