Shirt sponsor set to change
Carlisle United Football Club are delighted to announce Virgin Trains as our official shirt sponsor and travel partner for the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
The instantly recognisable Virgin Trains logo will appear on the first team shirts for the first time next season having already been displayed prominently on the club training kit throughout the current campaign.
Chairman Andrew Jenkins said: “It’s absolutely fantastic for everyone connected with the club that we have been able to develop our partnership with Virgin Trains as we maintain our strong links with Stobart Group.
“I started working with Edward Stobart many years ago and Andrew Tinkler and his team have taken things forward and achieved a great deal from there. We are proud to be able to say that we have had the Stobart name associated so closely with us for such a long period of time and we are looking forward to that remaining the case for many years to come.”
The Eddie Stobart Ltd logo first took pride of place on United’s first team shirts for the 1995/96 season and was replaced by the distinctive Stobart Group logo for the introduction of the popular ‘toothpaste swirl’ Le Coq shirt in 1997.
Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of Stobart Group said: “Stobart has supported Carlisle United for the past 19 years and is pleased the opportunity to bring a new sponsor on board has come to fruition, namely the partnership with Virgin Trains. As a business, Stobart Group will continue to be involved with the club and looks forward to sharing in its success going forward.”
Managing director John Nixon said: “We feel very fortunate to be able to work so closely with two strong, national brands such as Virgin Trains and Stobart Group. Both partnerships are extremely positive for the club and we are delighted to welcome Virgin Trains as our new shirt sponsor.
“The 19-year Stobart Group sponsorship of the first team strip set records in the Football League and we are delighted that they will be continuing with their support of the club as we all move forward.”
The Virgin Trains logo will now be placed on all first team shirts, shorts, socks, training and travel wear when the current strip and official clothing range is replaced ahead of the 2014/15 season.
Stuart Davison of Virgin Trains said: “Stobart Group will be a hard act to follow and we're delighted that we've struck this deal with the club.
“Over the last year we've built up a strong relationship with Carlisle United and this deal underlines our commitment to the club and city. I can't wait to see the Virgin Trains logo appearing on the team's main shirts.”
Virgin Trains has operated long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between Greater London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland since March 1997 and provides a fast and frequent connection between the major cities of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
