Shires Fire and Safety on Stafford Park in Telford is sponsoring Cefn Druids Youth Academy football team to encourage youngsters to get involved with the sport and become the new players of the future.
As an official partner for youth development, Shires Fire and Safety sponsors the Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 teams.
Barry Mould, Shires Fire and Safety managing director, said it is important for the company to give back to the communities it serves.
He said: “As a company we service a great deal of Wales and Welsh Border Counties.
“We have been maintaining the fire extinguishers at the Cefn Druids football ground for many years.
“It was through this that we felt inspired to sponsor the football team.
“The Cefn Druids story is heart-warming and the grounds are a fascinating place. We felt compelled to help the team raise the funds to support the youth team.
“It also helps us raise our profile within the community and build the Welsh side of our business.”
Cefn Druids AFC, whose home ground is at The Rock, in Rhosymedre, plays in the Huws Gray Alliance League, the second tier of domestic football in north and mid Wales.
Chairman Brian Mackie said the club is thrilled to work in partnership with Shires Fire and Safety.
“For a small club like us, we are always looking for funding.
“We run a very successful academy program and Shires do our fire appliances here.
“We approached them and they have come in and supported us financially and we are very pleased.”
Mr Mackie said the academy trains children aged eight to 16-years-old.
“With so many teams, we have to rent facilities as we cannot always use our own ground so the money goes towards that and towards coaches.”
Mr Mackie said the academy received funding when the club was in the Welsh Premiership League.
“But we got relegated three years ago and there’s no funding now. We only just missed getting promoted this season as we finished second.
“It’s a competitive league and the only way we can compete with some of the bigger clubs is by having home-grown players through our academy system.”
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