Hi
Looking at putting together a player sponsorship for the wakefield board, and i noticed that you guys had one already. I was just wondering what deal it was that you got and how you divided out the 'perks'. Any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks guys
Ryan

Bump

your best of PMing Wiganbull as he arranges it. but basically we get hospitality in coral stand for a couple of matches for 1 think 30 or so people. these are allocated on a 1st served basis over the two matches to people who contributed.

Wigan Bull is the best person for info about this to be honest, as he is the point person linking the users on here with the club. But basically we got enough people on here to say they would pay a small amount towards a group amount, we then got in touch with the club about the idea of a supporters group sponsoring a player and they gave us a list of the players available for sponsorship and what the cost of sonsorship was.

We wanted to aim it at younger players coming through so this meant some were not already sponsored and so available, and the cost was less as obviously sponsorship costs increase with likely exposure of your player.

Once we got a rough cost figure form the club we got people to stump up and send cheques/paypal deposits to Wigan Bull who sorted it with the club, here is where a degree of trust enters the equation but there was enough of us who know we'd be ok that if one or two gave back word it didn't really matter.

For the perks we rearranged them with the club so that we can all attend one of the lower key games as a group in the coral stand, I forget which one this year TBH.

Its a great little deal IMO but the key is getting one or two people who are genourous with their time and effort and able to provide the link between the supporters group and the club, we have Wigan Bull to thank for that one. Good luck with it




#edit# ...or for the shorter version just stick with mat's post

Haha thanks for that. I'm arrangeing the whole thing and have so far managed to get James Elston and Andrew Gliver involved as well. The key point i was wondering about was how the group managed to get the 'perks'. I see that you go to two games in two groups which is good. Is there anything else included like food, drink or even a photo?

Don't think we had food last time (unless I turned up too late!?)

Haha thanks

We commuted all the normal player sponsorship perks (such as they are) to the free entry to the corporate stand - given there are over 70 of us this time. Nothing else with it IIRC.

You do get some fringe benefits high up in the Coral Stand at Odsal, though - maybe the same at the Benidorm Flats? For example, we all got to see the normally-mild, placid Bullseye lose it and go apoplectic at Sykes, with line beckoniong, passing to...someone in the family stand - and nearly bowl renowned Cas fan Tigertot over the railings as he stormed off nearly taking the bar door with him. Perks like that are priceless...

I think the key thing is pick a player who might not normally receive sponsorship, we've gone for fringe academy players like the Burgess Brothers and now this season - Tom Burgess, Cain Southernwood and John Bateman

Where these supporter lead schemes work is when they are adding incremental value in areas that the club would like to invest but has to rule out due to budget. The Bullbuilder is an excellent example of this, you should consider one of these schemes too

They are well on with registering their own Supporters' Trust - their completed application is with the FSA now. Suspect they may have a wide range of calls on their resources though!

What i've suggested is that we sponsor two of the younger guys. If i can get 30 members to agree its £40 each. Said if we pay in £50 the rest can go to help form the supproters trust. Not much interest as of yet tho sadly. Thanks for the help guys/gals.

Last year we started off along same lines. We aimed to raise a few hundred quid. As we got more and more takers, we were able to cut the cost per head back, but we stopped reducing at £20 as everyone seemed at ease with that amount.

Maybe you could set a £ value target, witha max per head of £50 (?) rather than a fixed £/head, and then reduce as (hopefully) you get more takers?

A very good idea and exactly what i want to do. I just can't get the takers.

Problem may be the order of things.

Bullbuilder, our Trust, grew out of the player sponsorship - with the idea why can't we build on what we have started? The player sponsorship still continued, as a separate initiative. In your case, you started with a trust and now want to add a separate player sponsorship. Maybe people feel its too many calls on them to help the club in too short a period?

Possibly. Have to see how it goes. Thanks for the help.

Think you are aiming a bit high here. Why not just aim for sponsoring one youngster? £20 a head sounds more realistic to me, especially as cash is short for many at the moment.

They have had over £1100 pledged in 24 hours which is unreal,really brilliant !!!!

From my point of view I did i because I love RL & believe it is the right thing to do, even though Bulls aren't my team. I would do it without the perks, as I believe most of those who contributed last year would - they are largely season ticket holders already after all. Getting perks might tempt a fringe but the core will come from loyal RL fans.

Just to let you know that we've hIt the target already. Hopefully get a few more to pledge now for the possibility of another! Fantastic effort and thanks fo the support.

That's really good. Well done.

Well done that is fantastic

Sounds like most of your questions have been answered ry21.

If you do need anything further, please do give me a shout!