The Ellingham & Ringwood Rugby Club have secured a major new sponsorship deal with the Raymond Brown Group, which will involve their facilities in Parsonage Barn Lane becoming the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground.

The Raymond Brown Group has been operating in Ringwood as an independent family business for over 50 years. It was established by Raymond Brown, who was a successful local businessman and shortly before his death in 2008, Raymond made a generous personal contribution towards the cost of the club’s new ground, which was being developed by Raymond Brown Building.

The sponsorship deal, which was negotiated by Jason Lewis, the chairman of the club’s sponsorship committee and Sue Brown, Raymond’s daughter and shareholder, involves the Raymond Brown Group paying the club £5,000 a year for the next three years. In return, in addition to the naming of the ground, the company will also benefit from a pitch side sponsorship board, and its branding around the ground.

Steve Benson, the Ellingham & Ringwood Chairman said, “we’re really pleased to be working with the Raymond Brown Group in this way. They are a well respected local company and we believe that the deal will bring real benefits to both the club and the Raymond Brown Group”. He added, “The first year’s sponsorship will be used to buy equipment which will be used by the whole club from our Under 6’s right through to our 1st XV”.

Ron Isaac, the Chairman of the Raymond Brown Group said, “We are delighted to be supporting our local rugby club, which is a real community club”. He added, “The Raymond Brown Group strives to support our local communities through both charitable works and wherever possible employing local labour and sub-contractors. We are proud of our involvement in various aspects of sponsorship, fundraising and donations as well as encouraging our staff to take part in nationwide charity days”.

The photograph shows Sue Brown, Ron Isaac and Kelvin White from the Raymond Brown Group, presenting the first year’s sponsorship cheque to Steve Benson and Jason Lewis from the Ellingham & Ringwood Rugby Club.

For Further information please telephone:

Steve Benson

(07702) 953500 - Mobile