Triumphant teenage football stars are celebrating success on and off the pitch after Croyland Car Megastore pledged its support for female footballers from a successful Northants club.
Upcoming football stars at AFC Rushden & Diamonds Women and Girls Under 15 Whites team received sponsorship for the first time from the Rushden dealership, and the cash boost has helped provide a new match kit for the talented team.
The team, which play in the Northants Women and Girls Macron Football League, received a surprise visit from Croyland’s mascot Cooper the dog and general manager Mark Swindells, who congratulated the girls on their current competitive winning streak.
Mark said: “Croyland is delighted to support this fantastic female football team and wish them continued sporting success.”
It was also announced that for the first time ever, the team have been invited to play at a national competition, the ACES Football Championship, which will pitch female football league champions from across the UK against each other at the tournament this June.
Kev Bull, Chairman and Coach of AFC Rushden & Diamonds Women & Girls, said: “It’s great to have a local outstanding sponsor like Croyland on our kit who are one of the biggest companies in Rushden. Having this support from Croyland gives us a lot of credibility as a club and it’s well timed as the women and girls teams are growing at such a rapid rate.
“It’s very important to have Croyland on board. Support like this is absolutely key for us and it boosts the players’ morale as it’s the first time they’ve been sponsored. We’re delighted to have been invited to compete in the ACES Football Championship where the girls will be representing Northamptonshire at this premier event, which is like the Champions’ League.
“I’m immensely proud of them, it’s incredible and is the icing on the cake for the girls as they all work so hard all year round in training and in games - they have an amazing love for each other and love for the game.”
Since the team was first formed, they’ve proved a football force to be reckoned with. In its first season the team finished league runner up and won the league cup. The following season they won the treble - the league, the league cup and the county cup. Last season they achieved the same again and have their sights set firmly on achieving the treble again, recently beating fellow female teams in landslide victories including winning games by 20 goals to nil!
Kev added: “The team started in Croyland Park in Wellingborough in June 2015 and it’s grown from four girls kicking a ball around in the park to having over 100 girls and ladies playing on a weekly basis. This season so far the U15 Whites have won the Northants Women and Girls Macron Football League, are in the Northampton Town FA Cup Final in April and on course to win the treble again for the third year running. They will do all they can to retain their championship crown.”