Iain Liddle reports
Charlton have formed a new partnership agreement with the University of Greenwich, which will see them become the club’s main shirt sponsor for the next two seasons.
The university, which will also work collaboratively with Charlton’s Community Trust, has campuses on the banks of the River Thames, in Medway and near the club’s Sparrows Lane training ground. It is widely recognised for its teaching excellence and regularly receives national recognition.
With the agreement in place, supporters will get a first look at the club’s brand new home kit for the 2014/15 season, in addition to news of further sponsorships, in the coming days.
Having turned down offers from other companies to become the club’s primary shirt sponsor, Chief Commercial Officer Ben Kensell believes the coming together of two famous South London organisations will create many mutual benefits.
“This really is a perfect partnership for Charlton Athletic in every sense of the word and we should be very proud to have the University of Greenwich on the front of our shirts and supporting the club for the next two years,” he said.
“The partnership will continue for a number of years following the shirt deal and this is a real statement that two of the Royal Borough’s most influential institutions are working closely together to benefit both parties.
“The agreement came about through the club and the university’s shared visions and objectives and the active engagement opportunities in sports, education and community within the local area.
“The Avery Hill campus sits next to our training ground and the club’s planned development of that site was an area of key interest when negotiating the partnership.
“The training ground is vital to Charlton’s future and we know that the new facility will allow for dual usage and interaction with our staff and players which will in turn benefit students studying specific courses at the university.
“The new training ground facility is driven by our aspiration to receive category-one status as an academy. The club wants to be the best that it possibly can be and to have key partners on that journey with us is vital.
“This partnership is for the long term and delivers tangible benefits for both parties. The university are proud neighbours of ours and one of the largest employers in the area, so what better institution is there to partner with”
Above: Charlton's Chief Commercial Officer Ben Kensell with Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, Professor David Maguire.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, Professor David Maguire, is equally excited by the opportunities created by the new partnership.
“It makes real sense for us to combine our resources and visions together to do something special for our local community,” he said.
“Working with Charlton allows us to make progress in all of our key areas such as original research, working with the local communities doing enterprise with businesses and other institutions and, of course, our educational work.
“Through the wonderful connection Charlton’s Community Trust has with local community hospitals, the borough and other local agencies we see a lot of opportunities to enhance our educational work training teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers.
“More widely, we are really appreciative of the fantastic work that Charlton does and their standing in the community and we’d like to work with them to extend those benefits and visions to the university.
“We are delighted we have found a way to work more closely together for the benefit of all”
The University of Greenwich is a leading London university, with an innovative and modern approach to teaching, research and enterprise. The university takes particular pride in its excellent standards of teaching and high levels of student satisfaction. It has won international recognition for the quality of its applied research across several fields.
The University of Greenwich has a successful track record of working in the field of sports science, through its Centre for Sports Science & Human Performance. Degree programmes include BSc Hons in Sports Science with Coaching, BSc Hons Sports Science with Professional Football Coaching, BA Physical Education & Sport and MSc in Strength and Conditioning.
The university also has interests in sports events management, sports marketing, sports psychology as well as offering teacher training in Physical Education.
Charlton would also like to thank Andrews Sykes Group for their enormous contribution as principal club sponsors for the previous two seasons.