Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Marine announces the reaching of an agreement with their main sponsor Dave Thompson, Managing Director of the marine travel company, of a nine year agreement to have the stadium named “The Marine Travel Arena” until 2024. The football ground in College Road was known historically as Rossett Park from 1903 until 2006 when Arriva became the stadium sponsors until the end of last season.

the marine travel company became front of shirt sponsors of Marine in 2012 and last year the travel company extended that agreement for a further ten years until 2024 and the agreement to name the stadium “The Marine Travel Arena” will run alongside that sponsorship for the same duration.

The new name for the stadium was chosen by a marine travel company employee Heather Wells who today was presented with a special momento of the occasion by Marine chairman Paul Leary in the clubrooms also attended by local news, media and invited guests. The nine year stadium agreement was also signed by Dave Thompson and Paul Leary at the same event.

the marine travel company is the UK's leading independent marine travel company and provides dedicated maritime travel, crew logistics, seaman fares and ship’s crew travel services to the Shipping and Marine industry, as well as the Oil & Gas sector.

Formed in 2002 the marine travel company is based in Canterbury and Manila and offers a 24/7/365 service to all its customers and is also a founding partner of MTA7, a global network of like-minded companies, such as Aspida Travel in Greece and other partners in Australia, the Philippines, Ukraine, India and USA, making a truly global reach.

Dave Thompson attended the famous FA Cup victory at home against Barnsley in 1975 with his father that was Marine’s first ever FA Cup win against a Football League club.

Marine Chairman Paul Leary said:

“Marine Football Club is again indebted to Dave Thompson and the marine travel company for agreeing to extend their sponsorship commitment to yet another level. Dave’s increasing contribution continues to provide that essential financial stability for our football club and this further commitment by him clearly demonstrates his passion for Marine FC who he has supported since he was at school in Waterloo as a young boy.

Since becoming a sponsor in 2012 from his Canterbury base, Dave’s involvement with Marine has been increasingly influential and the Club has been able to acknowledge his amazing support by appointing him as a Vice President at last year’s AGM and more recently has been co-opted onto the Management Committee of the club. On behalf of everyone at Marine I would like to express our sheer gratitude and thanks to Dave for his fantastic support of our Club so far and for his future commitment of so many years. The Marine Travel Arena, chosen by Heather, is a great new name for our stadium and the announcement today with Dave Thompson will maintain the high level of public interest in our football club since our great escape at the end of last season.”

Paul Leary added:

“I would like to thank outgoing stadium sponsors Arriva North West for their support over the last 12 years originally as shirt sponsors and for the last nine years as stadium sponsors. I am delighted that they will continue to have a branding presence in the stadium.”

Dave Thompson, Managing Director of the marine travel company said:

“I am delighted that my company has been able to extend its commitment and support of Marine Football Club by sponsoring the name of the stadium in addition to sponsoring the Club’s home and away shirts. I still remember visiting Marine for the first time with my father in the late 60’s and although I am based down South I get to watch Marine as often as I can. I am regularly on Merseyside and am really thrilled and excited that myself and my company can continue to be part of Marine's very long term plans and I can now look forward, especially, to being at The Marine Travel Arena for the many seasons ahead.”

Photographs of Dave Thompson and Paul Leary signing the agreement and Heather Wells receiving the momento will follow shortly.

Paul Leary comments:

“The five figure annual value of the stadium sponsorship will further consolidate the financial position of Marine Football Club in the years ahead. The sponsorship by the marine travel company increasingly provides a level of support that makes a huge difference and will enable the officials and committee of the Club to reassess its aspirations for the future.”