A Coventry school’s football team has been sponsored by a prominent local business, with the money going towards a brand new kit.
Ernesford Grange Community Academy has received a substantial donation from Midlands-based construction and development firm the Deeley Group, which is headquartered in Coventry.
This has enabled the school to purchase kits for their Year 10 football team, holders of the prestigious West Midlands County U15 trophy.
Gary Heavey, PE teacher at Ernesford Grange Community Academy, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the sponsorship – the students are loving pulling on their own strip that is personal to them and reflects the values and traditions of the Academy. The days of using their regular PE kits are no more!
“The kits will soon be in action for another major schools final, as we plan to lend them to our equally talented year nines, who are in a Coventry final in the coming weeks.
“It’s really important for us to receive sponsorship to support the school’s sports budget, thereby allowing us to support our talented footballers – which may not have been possible without the boost from Deeley Group.”
The sponsorship follows on from the major £5 million extension project undertaken by Deeley Construction at Ernesford Grange Community Academy, which is expected to be completed by September 2022 and funded by Coventry City Council.
It will create new teaching space and classrooms, with the work resulting in around 180 new places for potential students. The new, three storey building will be ready for students to use by the next academic year.
The expansion is phase two of a project which has already seen Deeley Construction build a state-of-the-art extension for the adjoining Riverbank Academy, a fellow Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust and designated SEN school.
Eleanor Deeley, joint managing director of Deeley Group, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support a local school in this way, and would like to pass on our congratulations to both the year nines and tens at Ernesford Grange Community Academy for the great success they’ve had this season.
“Supporting the local community is an important part of our strategy, and we’re pleased to continue our partnership with the community academy, with the extension project we embarked on together just last year now well underway.
“We look forward to seeing the new kits in action in the near future.”
