Taylor Wimpey : Leicestershire junior football team gets new kit

Date: Thursday 19 April 2018

Young Leicestershire footballers are looking the part on the pitch thanks to a sponsorship boost from our East Midlands team.We gave £450 to Ibstock United's under-12 Panthers team to fund a new blue-and-white striped home kit for the current season. The donation was part of the region's work to support the community around its Hastings Manor development in Hugglescote, not far from where the Panthers play their home games.

Andrew Morley, Ibstock United's Football Development Officer and the manager of the under-12s age group section, said: 'Our club has the largest under-12s section in the county, with 60 youngsters playing each week, and the Panthers are the section's fourth team. We do get sponsorship offers for our first and second teams but we struggle to get someone to support our fourth-string side so we are extremely grateful to Taylor Wimpey.'

Ibstock United's junior teams train at the Ashby Road playing fields in Ibstock,and the under-12 Panthers play in the Leicester Foxes League Division Nine. Andrew is aiming for a mid-table finish for his team, who often go up against other clubs' first and second-string sides.

He added: 'A lot of the Panthers' youngsters were not being given the opportunity to play at other clubs but we are in the fortunate position to offer them games and keep them in the sport.

'The new kit looks really smart. Previously, we had to use a mix-and-match set of kits. Some were old or others had long sleeves while others didn't. Now we look really professional on the pitch.'

Rob Curry, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Midlands, said: 'As a responsible local housebuilder we are committed to supporting the communities in which we build our new homes, so we were delighted to be able to help Ibstock United under-12 Panthers and provide them with a new kit.

'We look forward to following the team's progress during the season and wish them every success.'