Cheshire Anilox technology has announced a new partnership with Stockport County Football Club. The sponsorship deal will see the anilox manufacturer’s branding appearing on the front of the new 2019-20 season away kits. The club, which is fondly referred to as ‘The Hatters’, will be playing in the 2019-20 National League and FA Cup.
For Cheshire Anilox Technology this will be their 28th year in business. Production Director Philip Smith said: “This is a truly honourable and proud landmark for me and my Dad Paul (company owner), to become sponsors of Stockport County, the club we’ve loved and supported for many years.
“My Dad first watched County as a boy in the 1960s and took me to my first games during the 1990/91 season. I went to my first Wembley game against Port Vale in 1993, but it was the following season where, as a young boy, I was eternally captivated by watching my heroes under Danny Bergara.”
As County enjoyed success during this golden era, Cheshire Anilox Technology were also starting to make a name for themselves as they rapidly became one of the UKs leading manufacturers of Anilox rollers and sleeves for the flexographic printing industry, expanding their global network of 45 distributors to supply to over 90 countries.
Many customers use their Anilox rollers to print labels and packaging for leading supermarkets, distillers and retailers alongside other specialist accounts.
Philip said: “On a personal note, seeing our logo on the players’ shirts and gaining exposure to thousands of fans is very exciting and a marker of just how far we’ve come as a business. But the overriding sentiment behind our sponsorship is that it’s nice to be able to give back to the club which has given us countless wonderful memories and times over the years.
“Simultaneously the decision to become partners with County at this time is an assurance of the good running and commitment from the directors and wider backroom staff who have been very welcoming in making us feel part of the club.”
The deal will also take the County name into untapped markets overseas, as many of Cheshire’s overseas customers are huge football fans and are very excited to hear of the sponsorship. They’ll be inviting many of them to Edgeley Park this year, gifting shirts for them to take home and hoping to capture hearts and minds abroad, raising the club’s profile internationally.
Commenting on the new partnership, County’s Commercial Manager Simon Dawson said: “To have the Cheshire brand on our alternate away kit is fantastic news for Stockport County. It’s even better when the company is owned and managed by such long-standing, die-hard County fans. We are proud to have Cheshire Anilox Technology on board and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”
