Local businesses support Sunday League Football

Rochdale Online Director John Kay hands a cheque to RDSFL Chairman Jim Matthews

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The Rochdale amp; District Sunday Football League (RDSFL) is one of the few thriving leagues in the Greater Manchester area but running the League, in particular balancing the books, is proving more and more difficult. Sponsorship from local businesses is crucial to the existence of the League and Chairman, Jim Matthews, has visited the sponsors to thank them for pledging their support for the coming season.

Rochdale Online continues as major sponsor of the League and also the main cup competition, the Rochdale Online League Cup.

Rochdale Online director John Kay said: “I think that it is most important to put something back into the local community from whom we get most of our business and at Rochdale Online we’ve been doing this for about eight years, and this is another example. We are delighted to support a local organisation, the Sunday Football League.”

Newbold Tyres will sponsor the Premier Division for the 2006/07 season. Owner Jim Brogan said: “We’ve been involved with the league for 25 years and we’re glad to continue this season. We’re doing it for the up and coming local footballers and to help support the Sunday League.”

Adil Ansari, owner of First Division sponsors Keystone Properties, told Rochdale Online how support for the Sunday League is important to Keystone: “It’s important that we support the community and supporting the Sunday Football League is a great move forward for us. We’re always looking to help local groups and Keystone has had a lot of presence over the past 6 months and is well recognised now.”

The Dog amp; Partridge Pub on Bury Road is the new sponsor of the Second Division. The new owner, Amir, is also the owner of the Asia Restaurant. He spoke about the importance of local football, he said: "We're all part of a community and it's important that that community supports each other. Football is great for building relations and it brings people together in a great way.

"We're supporting two local teams this year and sponsoring the Second Division from the Dog amp; Partridge. We've got a lot of involvement with Rochdale Football Club and now we hope to benefit the Sunday League as well."

Lambourne Images took photos for Rochdale Online News at last season's Lancashire Sunday Trophy Final and at the Rochdale Online Cup final. This season as well as taking photos, they are also sponsoring the Third Division. Steve Pratt of Lambourne Images said: “Following our coverage of the Sunday League Trophy final last season our interest in local amateur football was greatly enhanced.

“Sponsorship of a division offers us the opportunity to raise our profile, whilst supporting local football. Watch out for us taking photos at one of your games, you may see yourselves online!”

League chairman Jim Matthews said how appreciative he was of the sponsors, he said: “I would like to thank all the sponsors for their valued support.

“Sponsorship is very difficult to come by but thanks to the exposure given to sponsors on the Rochdale Online web site, the sponsors will actually be able to see immediate benefit from their involvement with the Sunday League.”

The Sunday League season kicks off this Sunday 3 September - visit the Sport section of Rochdale Online for fixtures, results and league tables:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/Sport/Football/Sunday/default.asp