Wrexham AFC have teamed up with Europe’s biggest trailer maker to unveil their new kit for next season.
The strip made its debut on the Ifor Williams Trailers stand at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Flint today.
Thanks to a new sponsorship deal the iconic company’s distinctive logo will be on the front of the new home and away shirts which go on sale at the club shop tomorrow.
According to the club, the partnership was a perfect fit because of Ifor Williams Trailers’ community spirit which matched their own ethos as a club owned and run by the fans.
The company, which has factories in Cynwyd, Corwen and Deeside, has a global network of distributors as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
Appropriately, the Ifor Williams Trailers stand at the popular youth festival has a major football theme.
They created the UK’s biggest table football game in honour of the new partnership with Wrexham, to support Wales at Euro 2016 and to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance.
The mega foosball table, made from a 14ft by 7ft trailer, and a giant football skittles game are proving a big hit with eisteddfod-goers.
The two Wrexham players, Rob Evans and Paul Rutherford, who modelled the new kit, also had a go, along with Barry Horne, the former Wales, Everton and Wrexham player who is now a member of the club’s board.
Speaking at the launch, club director Spencer Harris said: “I’m very pleased because I think this is a fantastic partnership with Ifor Williams Trailers.
“As a company, they were exactly what we were looking for because we are a community-based, fans-owned club and they are also community focused.
“They’re an iconic, globally known brand and I think the fit is really good in terms of getting the name of Wrexham Football Club out there.
“Our partnership sends out a message to people about what we stand for and I am sure the fans will love it.”
Barry Horne said: “Ifor Williams Trailers stand for quality, they are very professional and their attention to detail is phenomenal so this is great partnership.
“From a personal point of view, I’m delighted the new kit has been launched at the Urdd Eisteddfod, particularly as it’s being held in the grounds of my old school, Flint High School.”
According to the club’s commercial manager, Geoff Scott, season ticket sales are already going well and he expects shirt sales to increase from around 2,000 to 3,000 plus.
He said: “The club shop is full of leisure wear and tomorrow the shop will be full of our replica kits and I know we’re going to be very busy so you’re going to see Ifor Williams Trailers’ name all over the country.
“We also have a world-wide fan base so wherever there is an Ifor Williams Trailers distributor you’ll probably find a Wrexham fan.”
Richard Hughes, the Human Resources Manager Ifor Williams Trailers, said: “Wrexham AFC isn’t a money no object premier league club owned by a mega-rich oligarch or American business tycoons, it is fan-owned and community-focused and that’s why we are involved.
“We have many die-hard Wrexham AFC fans among our staff at Ifor Williams trailers, including season ticket holders and Wrexham Supporters’ Trust members, and so we’re all really excited about our new partnership.
“Most people in North Wales, even those supporting the football giants like Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City, have a corner of their heart reserved for Wrexham AFC.
“Wrexham AFC which was established in 1864 has a fantastic heritage and a distinguished history as the oldest in Wales and the third oldest in the world.
“The club has a track record of developing great players who give every child in North Wales something to aspire to.
“The step from Ruthin or Corwen or Bala to Liverpool or Everton or Manchester City or United is huge, but Wrexham AFC is an achievable goal and we really need to keep it alive that grassroots element of football in the community.
“Every Saturday you see children on the pitch toiling away come rain or shine, and when they are on that football pitch, however many minutes they’re playing for, they are doing something amazing.
“Football is about health, and teamwork and pride in sporting achievement, and that’s why it’s really important that we have a professional football club in North Wales.
“Wrexham AFC has a brilliant track record for youth sport with the boys and girls teams, and also for disabled football, which is another reason we are proud to partner the club this year.”
