RACE ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB

Race Association Football Club was formed 1 December 1905, our club being one of if not the oldest amateur football club in the Borough of Torfaen. The first recorded game for the club was a Race Junior team vs a Pontypool Boys team. One of the first known grounds that the club played on was known locally as “The Welfare” situated at Lower Race. The ground was built by the miners who were on strike in 1921. The local miners association owned the ground called Glyntillery Welfare Association. Glyntillery was name of the local coal pit, which also had a team that used the pitch. In 1967 Race AFC players and committee installed new drainage, which was subsequently dug out by hand, they then covered the pitch in fresh topsoil and for the first time in the club history had a nice green surface in which to play on. The club have played in the following league structures of the years which include the Newport & District, Usk & District, Pontypool & District, Mon Senior, and Gwent Senior. The club currently play at Senior Level in the Gwent County League and Gwent Central League, whereas the junior section plays in the Torfaen Junior League.

The club this year will be marking its 110^th anniversary, some 10 years previous the club hosted a Cardiff City Select XI at our ground to help celebrate our Centenary Year this proved a remarkable and enjoyable day for the club in front of some 900+ spectators.

The club currently run junior and senior teams from our base at Coleg Gwent Pontypool, Blaendare Road, Upper Race, Pontypool. The senior section competes in the Gwent County & Gwent Central Leagues respectively, covering the areas from Ebbw Vale to Monmouth whereas the expanding junior section competes in the Torfaen Junior Leagues.

Our club is run by a hard working and dedicated committee some of whom have put in some 80+ years combined service to the club. We rely heavily on the support and generosity of companies none more so than now due to the local authority withdrawing all funding for pitch maintenance which has affected our club not only resource wise but time needed to maintain, mark and attend to our facilities. Resources wise it has meant that the money we do raise through player subscriptions and selling of our Weekly Club Lotto tickets goes towards energy bills , marking material for pitch, replenishing the surface through seeding and fertilising, resulting in less being available for the purchasing of equipment & kit, hence the need for support of local companies.

The club has a vision to continue to provide football for the local and surrounding community just has those have in our past. Our aim is to secure better facilities for the club for it to thrive, but with hard work we feel we can achieve this.

We are seeking support from companies to enable us to purchase new Playing Kit commencing for the 2015/2016 season, it would be a two year deal, meaning your company will have two years advertising on our kits and teamwear. As an amateur club we rely heavily on the generosity and support of companies to enable us to purchase vital kit & equipment in order for us to compete week in week out.

The club would like to offer a company the unique opportunity to have its name on both our Home/Away kit. By having your name on both kits we believe it will show continuity with our kits and show a little professionalism even at our amateur level. The home kit shall comprise our traditional club colours of green/black. The playing strip will consist of Shirts, Shorts and Socks. It will include your company logo on front of the kit along with our club badge including numbers on the back of shirts and the shorts. Also as part of the deal you will get a FREE advertisement board at our ground, local press coverage, website advert, social media coverage and match programme advertisement.

If your budget will not allow you to stretch to kit sponsorship we have many other areas in which you can make a contribution to our club such as:

• Match Ball Sponsorship
• Match Warm Up Top Sponsorship
• Polo Shirt Sponsorship
• Kit Bag Sponsorship
• Pitch Side Banner
• Website Advertisement – Season package
• Programme Sponsorship – Quarter, Half & Full pages

A Sporting Chance 
Associate your company with the positive imagery of sport. Sport offers complementary ways to promote your business and achieve objectives, particularly in respect of Corporate Social Responsibility! Increase your visibility in local and regional media and your standing as a caring employer! Relatively low sums of money can make a big difference to a club such as Race AFC.

By Thinking Local 
The byword in sports sponsorship today is ‘grassroots’, in more ways than one. Business’s such as yours are ‘thinking nationally and acting locally’, in order to reach old and new customers. Whether your favoured game is football, rugby, cricket, or whether or not you are a sports fan at all, this is classic marketing. The association of your company with the positive imagery of Race AFC ; the visibility in local and national media; the gratitude of the players, committee, your customers, and your employees, for the support you lend to their team; all add up to a large helping of exposure. Your business can achieve a boost for little cost.

Your Brand can be seen by many each week 
Your sponsorship package will be designed to incorporate your logo and ensure it receives maximum exposure from all media especially the local press. Display your business name on banners around the venue, advertisements in programmes. Website links between you, Race AFC and other company websites puts your business further into the spotlight. All this exposure indicates that your company cares about the local community and is prepared to invest in its future and the welfare of its residents

Feel you can help a local football club; please get in touch via email: raceafc@btinternet.com where we can discuss a package and supply you with costings.