ERMS UK has taken up full shirt sponsorship of Cambridge United FC’s regional development centre and shadow academy for the forthcoming season.
The kit, which will be worn by over 1,200 children associated with the U’s youth development system across the region, is predominantly black with a striking yellow stripe across the chest, whilst the ERMS logo will be emblazoned on the front of the new jerseys.
Based in Chatteris, fresh produce supplier, packer and category management company ERMS previously sponsored the League Two club’s 2014/15 away kit, which was worn throughout last year’s campaign, including for the trip to Old Trafford in February 2015 for the U’s FA Cup Third Round replay against Manchester United.
ERMS MD Ian Smith, said, ”As a family company with our roots well established since 1986, it’s a good feeling to be able to sponsor the centres that might well see youngsters coming up from grassroots level to actually end up playing for the club. We’ve had a lot of pleasure sponsoring Cambridge United over the years, and are delighted to be the first sponsor of the regional development centres.”
Cambridge United's football development manager James Cutting, added: “We are delighted that ERMS has decided to pledge their support towards our regional development centres, shadow academy and goalkeeper programme,” he said.
“The support that ERMS has given us through this sponsorship is a further indication of the strength of partnerships that we are developing in the local community.
'To have such a high profile sponsor on the player’s shirts is fantastic and the fact that it looks so striking will no doubt help the players feel professional as they represent Cambridge United Football Club in weekly training sessions and school holiday matches.”
The regional development centres offer professional coaching to around 900 players at 15 locations within a 50-mile radius of Cambridge. The players train once a week with two FA and UEFA qualified coaches, and are continually assessed with a view of gaining a place on the next level of the youth development pyramid.
The regional development centres directly feed into the shadow academy where players train at one of two locations for 90 minutes each week, with an emphasis shift towards tactical development and match performance.
The players work to a syllabus closely aligned to the academy syllabus, and in line with the prestigious Cambridge United Academy, which is the ultimate progress route.
