Students will be bowled over as De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) becomes the new official sponsor of Leicestershire County Cricket Club, writes Jack Brooke-Battersby.
OWZAT: Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard, Leicestershire CCC chief executive Wasim Khan with some of the first XI and DSU Cricket
The club will give students expert coaching, allow them to experience the day in the life of a professional cricketer, use the indoor and outdoor nets at Grace Road as well as offer free tickets for some matches.
Leicestershire’s first team will run out onto the pitch in shirts emblazoned with DMU’s logo and the players will continue to use the university’s state-of-the-art Queen Elizabeth leisure centre.
The Varsity match will be held at the famous Grace Road ground on Friday, May 22 - just before the launch of the Foxes’ T20 Blast opening game against Derbyshire.
De Montfort University Vice Chancellor Dominic Shellard said: “De Montfort University has been a supporter of Leicestershire County Cricket Club for many years, and we are pleased to become the main sponsor for 2015.
“This is a club with a rich history of sporting achievement and its admirable commitment to grass roots community work is mirrored in our university’s own focus on the public good.
“De Montfort University’s students and staff look forward to joining Leicestershire’s members and supporters to see some fine cricket at Grace Road this year.”
The club recently announced Wasim Khan MBE as its new chief executive and appointed Foxes legend Andrew McDonald as head coach.
Mr Khan said: “We are delighted to have De Montfort University as our Official Club Sponsor. We are really looking forward to continuing our valued partnership.
“We have some great events already in the diary including the Varsity cricket match at Grace Road. As well as receiving support from De Montfort University, we are committed to helping students too.
“We want to help young people with their development and careers and Leicestershire County Cricket Club will again be participating in the Graduate Champions Scheme, which has been a huge success in the past. We will also give students work experience opportunities and provide coaching and facilities for De Montfort University’s cricket team.
“The support of De Montfort University will be of huge benefit as we look to have a successful 2015 season. It is great to have such a big local organisation supporting the new era of Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket.”
Among the highlights of the partnership deal are:
• Students to be given the chance to be 12th man during the game against New Zealand
• Grace Road hosting the Varsity clash which will see DMU take on Leicester University
• 100 free tickets to the New Zealand game on June 6
• Graduate Champions, DMU’s employability programme, to be promoted to Leicestershire’s members and partners
• Coaching sessions by LCCC players and senior staff for DSU cricket teams in the build up to Varsity
• 70 free tickets to each T20 Blast home game
• 20 free tickets to each Championship and RL50 home games
• £25 season-ticket offer for DMU students
• A women’s cricket club launched at DMU with taster sessions run by Leicestershire
James Moy, the captain of DMU First XI, said: “It’s great we’ve got this continued partnership, the obvious benefit is the sharing of both of our facilities which is only going to help us in the Varsity match, which hopefully we can turn into four wins in a row”
The partnership will also include De Montfort University branding around the ground and in club publications.
Posted on Tuesday 27 January 2015