The girls and organisers of the Kilgetty football and South Pembs Sharks teams have gone global to seal a new sponsorship deal!
Representatives of both sides met new sponsor Ty Francis at the weekend, to receive new kits and launch their partnership with the New York Welsh.
This sponsorship is part of a global initiative co-founded by Ty Francis MBE, a former Greenhill pupil who has lived in New York and is encouraging ex-pats to sponsor grassroots sport back home in Wales.
The platform SponsorOurClub.org (the website will launch later this year) connects Welsh ex-pats and individuals with Welsh youth sports teams in need of financial support. The program will initially focus on female football and rugby teams accredited by the FAW and WRU, and mixed ability teams across Wales. Also helping develop the project are Ty's wife, Alayna Francis, and friend Aled Miles.
Kilgetty FC is one of the few FAW Gold accredited clubs in Wales and through volunteers, provides football for 10 teams across all ages, with girls-only teams for Under 14s and 16s. Club Chairman Lukas Gamble said: “Providing grassroots football in Wales can be financially challenging. The New York Welsh concept is amazing. The fact we are able to benefit from fund-raising in New York by Ty, Alayna and Aled is unbelievable. The girls are really excited by the exposure and we look forward to the on-going relationship with New York Welsh.”
The South Pembs Sharks is a WRU female rugby hub based at TenbyUnited RFC, and formed in 2018 under the umbrella of The Cleddau Wildcats. The organisers and coaches were blown away by the enthusiasm and popularity of the hub, as 75 girls between the ages of 7-13 were training weekly. This year they are introducing an under 15s and Hub leader, Rachel Grieve said: “The financial support we have received from Ty, Alayna and the New York Welsh team has allowed us to become a hub with our own identity.
"Our four teams will now have rugby tops to play in, boosting pride and team spirit. As a hub we aim to develop further and this financial support will give us the opportunity to do this. Everyone involved is very grateful and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the future!”
Francis and SponsorOurClub.org have already secured funding of the Dragons Mixed Ability Team through New York Welsh, and the former Tenby man said: "New York Welsh wanted to be a catalyst to demonstrate that anyone in the world could make a positive local impact on girls rugby, football and for mixed ability teams all around Wales and bring a global perspective for regional programs."
For more information visit www.newyorkwelsh.com.
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