Rochdale dad secures Ronseal sponsorship for budding Littleborough footballers

Littleborough Juniors Football Club under 8s team kit sponsored by Ronseal

A local Littleborough father has set up a new junior football team and secured two years of sponsorship in a bid to ensure young footballers in the area get the chance to play a competitive game.

Luke Jarman, 36, decided to start an under 8s team for Littleborough Juniors Football Club after he noticed that some of the younger players, including his son Thomas, were not getting the opportunity to play as part of the first team.

Wanting to give his son Thomas, 8, and other young footballers the chance to hone their skills, Luke took it upon himself to set up the Under 8s squad where he will act as manager in his first coaching role, supported by his friend and coaching partner, Kevin Sladen, 39.

To help the newly formed team on their plight to football success, Luke has also managed to secure sponsorship from DIY brand, Ronseal, who is now onboard as official kit sponsor for the next two seasons. 

Speaking about his new-found role as Football Coach, Luke said: “Thomas has been keen to get stuck into playing football since he could walk and while Littleborough Juniors are the perfect fit for him, they’re a huge club with more than 30 teams, so it wasn’t possible for Thomas and some of the other younger players to get a game and have their time to shine.

“I know how important matches are to building confidence with these children, especially if they’ve just joined a team and are learning about the game. I decided to start the Under 8s team, so they’ll have more of a chance to hone their skills, and perfect their confidence on the pitch.”

As part of their sponsorship, Ronseal has provided the team with a full football kit which includes shirts, shorts and socks, as well as weatherproof items and waterproof jackets. As an employee of Sherwin Williams, Luke’s sponsorship request came at exactly the right time, as the famous DIY brand has recently become more aligned with sport, following their recent sponsorship of the England Rugby League and of four clubs in the England Football League for the 2018/19 seasons.

Luke said: “Ronseal is really immersing themselves in the world of sport at the moment and were more than happy to help out. The sponsorship has added a real sense of authenticity to the team. Now all we’ve got to wish for is that the lads follow in the footsteps of some of the bigger teams that Ronseal sponsor.”