Hengrove Athletic Football Club
Season 2022/23 Sponsorship Booklet
Hengrove Athletic Football Club The AVB Stadium, Norton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 0BT Main sponsor for season 2022-23 - AVB Commercial Vehicle Repairs Club Officials Chairman Treasurer Club Secretary Media/Commercial Groundsmen
Mike Greatbanks Mike Greatbanks Martin McConachie Martin McConachie Nigel Gray Dave Fear First Team Manager Jamie Hillman Assistant Manager Jon Berry Coaches Ian Jones Mike Stone Physiotherapist Pete Stenner Kit Manager Pete Stenner Reserve Team Man. Sean Day Asst. Manager TBC U18 Manager TBC Committee Jon Berry Alan Burton Dave Fear Mike Greatbanks Jamie Hillman Ian Jones Giorgio Mancini Martin McConachie Pete Stenner Mike Stone Web: www.hengroveathletic.com Email: secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Club Honours Alf Bosley Cup winners 1958/59, 1963/64 Somerset Junior Cup winners 1964/65 Somerset League Cup winners 1979/80 Somerset Senior Cup winners 1979/80 Promoted to Somerset County Premier 1995/96 Somerset Senior Cup runners-up 2003/04, 2004/05 Somerset County Premier winners 2005/06 Western League Div One runners-up 2012/13, 2016/17 Les Phillips Cup winners 2015/16 FA Vase Third Round 2015/16 Bristol u18 Combination Div One winners 2021/22
Phone: 07884 492217 (chairman) Phone: 07432 614494 (secretary)
Notes from Norton Lane Hello there, and welcome to Hengrove Athletic Football Club. Hengrove play in the Toolstation Western League Division One, the tenth tier of English football, six divisions below the Football League. That’s a long way from the Premier League and as a result, the tens of millions of pounds don’t quite reach us. In fact, the only way we benefit from the “big clubs” is if the locals buy a pint or two while watching them on the big screen in our clubhouse. Hengrove isn’t just about the first team though; we have a reserve side as well as an under18’s side too and the majority of our teams are filled with local players. We are almost unique in that we don’t pay players, they play just for the love of the club. In the past few seasons, we have tasted success on and off the field; on the field by winning the Les Phillips Cup in 2015/16; promotion into the Premier Division of the League & playing Bristol City’s first team squad in their Community Trust fixture with nearly 1,700 supporters packing into Norton Lane in 2016. Off the field, we also were awarded two County League cup finals and we’ve hosted many charity games to raise money for disadvantaged youngsters as well as making two trips to Bristol Children’s Hospital with Easter eggs and gifts. The past two years have been difficult for the club as with most businesses; however right now, we are looking to continue our recent progress on and off the pitch. And this is where you as a local business come in. We would like to build a two way business relationship with you; if you pledge some financial support, we will offer something in return. We have many different packages from perimeter advertising to matchday programmes; from website ads to sponsoring a kit, there’s something at every level. Or, If you just fancy coming to watch us each week, why not purchase a season ticket which offers some fantastic savings? If you would like any more information on anything at all, please do not hesitate to contact me at secretary@hengroveathletic.com or alternatively, call me on 07432 614494. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours in sport Martin McConachie (Club Secretary)
Club Tracksuits The newly formed reserve team are looking for a sponsor for a full set of tracksuits for the forthcoming season, 2022/2023. In the smart club colours of green & white, the players will wear these on matchdays both home & away with the company or individual name being emblazoned on the tracksuits. Price on application.
Polo Shirts
The reserve team are also in the market for a polo shirt sponsor for the forthcoming season, 2022/2023. The players will wear them to & from the ground on matchdays and will be in the smart club colours of green & white. Price on application.
Reserve Team Kit Finally, the reserve team are seeking a sponsor for their playing kit for the coming season, 2022/2023. In the smart club colours of green & white, the reserves will wear this every week (except where a colour clash takes place), and have a team picture prior to the season beginning in September 2022. Price on application.
Finally, if you or your company would like to take advantage of any of these special deals, you will also receive a free one page advert in the matchday programme PLUS a 2022/23 season ticket (the two together are valued at £200). For any of the above offers, please call club secretary Martin McConachie on 07432 614494 or alternatively, you can email him at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Perimeter Boards
Perimeter advertising boards are a great way to advertise your business at our home ground in Norton Lane, Whitchurch. Match action pictures often appear in the local newspapers, on club websites, in matchday programmes & on social media too so your company boards will be seen regularly. Perimeter boards cost £250 for the first year (including the manufacture) and then just £100 a year for renewal. Please give Martin McConachie, the club secretary, a call on 07432 614494 or email him at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Perimeter Banners
As above, a perimeter banner at Norton Lane is a highly visual way of getting your company noticed but at a cheaper cost as they’re produced from a durable fabric. Banners are made at the same size as the perimeter boards but cost £200 for the first year (including the manufacture) and then just £100 a year for renewal. If you’re interested in taking up this deal, please give Martin McConachie, the club secretary, a call on 07432 614494 or email him at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Season Tickets
At Hengrove Athletic, we like to reward our loyal supporters. We are one of the few clubs at this level to offer a season ticket to our fans and they represent a super saving on coming to Norton Lane every week and paying each time. Normal adult admission to a Premier Division match is £6 and there is 21 home league games this coming season meaning a “game-by-game” cost of £126.
However, a Hengrove Athletic season ticket will set you back just £100, a saving of £26. But, in addition, we’ll reserve you a copy of our matchday programme for every game; this means you stand to save nearly £50. It also saves you fiddling about for change every match. Just show your season ticket at the gate and in you go, not forgetting your programme of course. There are also season tickets available for both senior citizens and concessions, prices on application. This year’s tickets are available now by calling the Hengrove secretary Martin McConachie on 07432 614494, or by emailing Martin directly at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD SPONSORS
Top To Toe Physiotherapy
Abacus Waste Management
The Three Lions
Ben’s Reclamation & Demolition
Belvedere Building & Plumbing
A D L Garage Doors
AVB Commercial Vehicle Repairs
D C Windows
E R & B Print
Avon Hydraulics (UK) Ltd
Apollo Cleaning Solutions
If you would like to join our board sponsors, please call Martin McConachie on 07432 614494 or email secretary@hengroveathletic.com for further details. The cost is £250 for the first year (including a one-off manufacture cost of £100) then £100 per year thereafter. This includes an advert on our website and in the programme.
OUR HOME GROUND - THE AVB STADIUM!
Programme Advertising
The Hengrove Athletic matchday programme is packed with lots of information about all the teams at the club, forthcoming fixtures, tables, results and much, much more. The 36 page publication is a mix of colour and mono pages and is very popular among the supporters. Advertising costs £100 for a full page (A5 size) and £50 for a half page; prices are for a full season of programmes so a guarantee of 21 games plus a few cup fixtures too hopefully. As a thank you, we’ll also put the name of your company & a link to its website on www.hengroveathletic.com , the club’s official website. Please give Martin McConachie, club secretary, a call on 07432 614494 or email secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Website Advertising Unofficially, the official club website - www.hengroveathletic.com - is one of the best of its type at this level. It’s jam packed with information, news, results, many statistics and photos. As a result, it is hugely popular. Each week sees more than 2,000 unique visits from those eager to keep up to date and the club’s Twitter account (@HengroveAFC) has almost 3,000 followers too. You can get your own company name, logo and a link to your website on our website! For just £25, you could have a presence on our home page which people could see every time they visit the club website. The website is updated regularly so that it never gets stale and in the season, numbers of visits and views rise even higher as people log in to find out the latest from the Lane! Please give club secretary Martin McConachie a call on 07432 614494 or email him at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Man of the Match Sponsorship
At every home fixture, the supporters choose the “Man of the Match” and the player is presented with a bottle of champagne. The presentation picture is then uploaded to social media that evening and is one of the most popular tweets of the week. Our current MOTM sponsor is stepping down after four happy seasons so there is an opportunity for an individual or company to take over. For £400 per season, you or your company will receive the same coverage as above plus we will also give you a free half page advert in our matchday programme. Please give Martin McConachie, club secretary, a call on 07432 614494 or email secretary@hengroveathletic.com
Player of the Month Sponsorship Just like the “Man of the Match” sponsorship, we are also seeking a company or an individual to become the official Hengrove Athletic Football Club “Player of the Month” sponsor. This may suit a business that could offer a voucher, an experience or an event as a prize; e.g. We previously had Cineworld @ Hengrove as POTM sponsor & they very kindly donated a pair of tickets to any film as their prize. There will be nine monthly awards (July/August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March & April/May. Of course, the presentation will be captured & uploaded on to social media & you will also receive a free half page advert in the matchday programme For further information, please give club secretary Martin McConachie a call on 07432 614494 or email him at secretary@hengroveathletic.com
The Hengrove
Like pontoon, but with a twist!
Entry costs just £1 per team per week (£10) Each competition runs for 10 matches First prize - £200 – highest scoring team Second prize - £100 – second highest scoring team Wooden spoon - £50 – lowest scoring team
Teams randomly selected Teams that don’t play awarded two goals New competition starts July 2022 Entry fees must be paid in advance
Clubhouse Hire
Hengrove Athletic also have a clubhouse available for hire. Able to accommodate up to 120 people, it can be hired by Hengrove members and non-members alike for events such as… Birthday parties (not 18th parties)
Wedding receptions
Engagement parties & retirement parties
Christmas parties
Karaoke evenings & discos
Race nights, quiz nights etc
Summer fun days & Barbecues
Christening parties
The clubhouse features a bar, large screen, sound system & dance floor; kitchen facilities are also available if required. For further information on booking, to make a booking or to arrange a time to view the room, please call Mike Greatbanks on 07884 492217 or alternatively, please email him at mike.greatbanks@btconnect.com
Hengrove Athletic F.C. History
Hengrove Athletic F.C was formed in 1948 from players who were demobbed from National Service. As a footnote, there is also wartime history to the club colours of green and white. With rationing and many shortages, football shirts were virtually unobtainable, so all of the members of Hengrove Athletic F.C donated an ordinary white shirt and a mother of one of the players kindly dyed them green in the bath at her Knowle home. The colour green had no symbolic meaning. It was the only colour available at the time! The founding fathers of Hengrove Athletic F.C then agreed to retain these colours for the new club. A successful application was made to join the Bristol and Suburban League and they were placed in Division 3 for the start of 1948/49 season. A Reserve XI was established in 1950 and in the same year Hengrove Hall was rented for club meetings and social gatherings. The club continued to expand and the ‘A’ XI started in 1953, followed by the 30-plus XI in 1959. These 4 football teams made Hengrove Athletic F.C the largest club in the Bristol and Suburban League at the time – after just eleven years. A ‘B’ XI replaced the 30 plus in 1962. The long search for a ground came to fruition on Sunday 7 June 1964 when Norton Lane was officially opened and Hengrove Athletic F.C took up residence. The first XI was accepted by the Somerset Senior League for the 1974/75 season, where they remained until 2005/06 when they were runaway, unbeaten, Premier Division Champions and then joined the Western League for the start of the 2006/07 season. The floodlights and stand were installed at the ground in 2007/08 to achieve the necessary ground grading of the Western League. The EWW Stand was then installed at the ground in 2012/13 to achieve the necessary ground grading of entry into the FA Cup and future possible promotions. The first XI finished runners-up in Western League Division One in 2012/13, achieving promotion to the Premier Division. They also lifted the Les Phillips League Cup (Western League) in 2015/16 before winning promotion to the Premier Division again the following season. In 2017/18, the club finished ninth in the Premier Division, their highest ever position and as a result, were also the highest placed Bristol side in the division. However, this was followed by relegation back to Division One in 2018/19. Jamie Hillman returned for a third spell as manager in the summer of 2019 but the next two seasons failed to play to a finish due to the COVID pandemic. The club introduced an under-18 side in season 2021/22 and plan to run a reserve side next season with the club celebrating its 75th anniversary in August 2023.
THE HENGROVE 75 In August 2023, Hengrove Athletic Football Club will celebrate its 75th anniversary. Formed shortly after the war by a group of demobbed soldiers, “The Grove” played down in Whitchurch then relocated to its current base here at Norton Lane in 1964, gradually moving up the leagues too. We’ve now been a Western League club for sixteen years! To celebrate our 75th birthday, we have put together a group of projects from around the club to take us to the next level on & off the pitch. Four categories; pitch, clubhouse, grounds and structure have been identified and various projects will be repaired, rebuilt, renewed and restored in time for the anniversary. The aim is to make the club more sustainable, more welcoming, smarter, fresher and an even greater place to watch the beautiful game. There’s so many more jobs, large and small, that we will be getting on with; painting, hammering, nailing, building, fixing & clearing. We have now introduced two more teams, will bring in several new sponsors, build a new car park and possibly get a big friendly for the anniversary day. If you can offer a service, a pair of hands or your expertise, please see a committee member (listed in front of programme) and let them know. As much of the work as is possible will be done by volunteers & we’d love to see the AVB Stadium look as good as possible ahead of the anniversary. Thank you in advance.
1948
2023
HAMDON MEDIA
Proud sponsors & producers of Hengrove’s matchday programme Freelance Writing
Website Management Football Administration
Social Media Management
Programme Production
New book out in 2022/23 - “Team Of My Life” tel: 07432 614494
twitter: @HamdonMart
email: martin@hamdonmedia.co.uk web: www.hamdonmedia.co.uk