The now famous HBPW sponsored soccer kit!
What began as HBPW helping out a team of junior soccer superstars may well have turned into the firm’s best ever sponsorship deal!
The ink was barely dry on the new team kit donated to Rotherham Valley Juniors Under Eights than the HBPW logo was being beamed around the world, courtesy of a Sky TV match at which several of the talented youngsters were flag bearers.
Now the outgoing club manager of Rotherham United FC, Neil Warnock, has been spotted holding one of the coveted ‘HBPW’ shirts hand in hand with the Valley’s team manager Scott Concannon!
“We were both at United’s end of season dinner when someone came up with the idea of getting Mr Warnock to pose with the shirt. The junior team management quickly snapped the boss, expecting that the additional publicity might attract further sponsorship from HBPW,” quipped Partner Paul Monaghan.
But hopes of a major ‘deal’ for the Rotherham side were dashed when Mr Warnock, who prevented the Millers from being relegated to League Division One, subsequently announced his departure from the club after just six months.
Thanks HBPW!
“For the price of a new set of kit the HBPW logo, in just one season, has been beamed across the world and been championed by a leading soccer manager. That’s got to represent good value by any standard. We will be holding a high-level board meeting to decide whether or not we can run to a set of tracksuits ahead of next season. I am optimistic!” added Paul.
Undefeated Valley Juniors play at the Herringthorpe Valley Road ground as part of the Under Eights Sheffield & District Junior Football League.
Meanwhile Warnock has written himself into Millers folklore for the job he performed in his 16-game stint last season, which saw him become the shortest serving manager in the club’s history.
After three games of his reign, his side were six points adrift from safety and staring relegation in the face until he masterminded a 10-game unbeaten run, which saw them move 10 points clear of the drop zone and secure their place in the second tier.
Stardom awaits Rotherham’s Valley Juniors soccer squad!