AFC Sudbury is delighted to announce a new three-year agreement with Stylize Display Graphics, the Haverhill-based display graphics and large format printing specialists. In a multi-media arrangement, the company will take over the sponsorship of the Women’s First Team Shorts when the new season opens in September.

However, Stylize director Neil Saville is quick to point out that there is much more to this new arrangement than self-promotion, adding “We want to help the community’s businesses to have a visual impact and thrive, which in turn helps out the wider area. We have been involved with the club as advertisers and suppliers for a few seasons now, but we are really pleased to have had the opportunity to get more involved at this point in time for two reasons.

First, like everyone, we have been really excited by the way that the Women’s game has taken off since the England Lions’ victory last summer, both nationally and at Sudbury. Whilst some sponsors might be attracted by the large gates that Sudbury’s Men’s First Team are drawing with their excellent form, we are keen to promote and support the Women’s First Team which is also thriving and punching above their weight on a much lower budget and at a higher level. We hope that they inspire lots of girls to want to play.

The second reason is that we have noticed how AFC Sudbury is reaching into the community to use their platform as a big, popular, local club to promote and support good causes. Investing some of our marketing budget in AFC Sudbury is investing in the community in which I and all our employees all live and work, as well as many of our customers.”

Stylize Sales and Marketing Manager Chris Mead adds “For example, I recently attended a tribute that they held to the life of Pele the week that he died. I was really impressed to see how they had reached out to the whole community, with our MP there, the Mayor, heads of the churches, schools and charities plus many business like ours. They brought everyone together to remember and celebrate the way that Pele had inspired generations of players to benefit from all the health benefits and camaraderie that football brings to communities like ours, that is what we are investing in.”

AFC Sudbury CEO Patrick Bell concludes “We are thrilled to have Stylize on board, and that they have the vision to support our Women’s team and their exciting future. Not only are they lovey people and excellent printers, but they are also very innovative problem solvers when it comes to all kinds of display and showcasing, from exhibition graphics, shop signage to site boards, and everything in between – so they are really appreciated here as partners in many respects.”