Accies sign £¼m sponsorship deal

Aug 14 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies have safeguarded the future of their youth development programme for the next three years after sealing a unique £250,000 sponsorship deal with a major retail firm.

Backing from Reid Furniture has resulted in one of the world’s biggest outdoor adverts, measuring 108 metres long, being placed on the wall of the New Douglas Park main stand.

The massive advert – which runs along the entire back wall of what will now be known as the Reid Furniture Main Stand – has been made using a specialist contravision film, a unique type of window advertising, which allows one-way visibility from inside corporate boxes.

Reid Furniture have also sponsored the new players’ lounge and media suite.

And the firm have also entered into a joint-sponsorship of the directors’ lounge, alongside electrical giant Philips.

Ann Gibb, head of marketing at Reid Furniture, said: “We are proud to sponsor such an historic team through its thoroughly deserved first season back in the Scottish Premier League, a season which I’m sure will be one of the club’s greatest.”

Hamilton Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald commented: “We have come a long way in a short time here at Hamilton Accies, and to be associated with another major retailer is testament to that.

“The money generated from this deal ensures the continuation of our youth development programme, which is vital to the ongoing success of our club and our community.

“It’s exciting times for the people of South Lanarkshire and we want them to get behind the players and, as importantly, those companies that enable our work to continue.”

Reid Furniture have been designing, manufacturing and retailing high-quality furniture for the past four decades, and operate 32 stores across Scotland, Ireland and the north west of England, three of which are located in and around Hamilton.