A talented junior football team from Wrexham are aiming to serve up more success thanks to a new sponsorship deal.
The Frankie and Benny’s restaurant at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre has been providing playing strips and other support for the successful Borras Park Rangers Under 15s side for the past four years.
Team officials and players alike believe their stylish appearance gives the lads a professional edge which helps boost their winning ways which have helped them a glittering array of silverware.
Now the popular restaurant has stepped in again to provide the team with new kit worth over £500 to ensure their immaculate turnout goes on through the 2013/14 season.
The eye-catching strip is already proving its worth after Rangers hammered rivals Borras Park Albion in a local derby which provided the perfect prelude to their new season.
Sponsorship of the team was first arranged four years ago by Frankie and Benny’s manager Peter Cross.
Peter’s son Callum, now 14, had started playing for the side and through going along to watch their games discovered they would welcome a little financial backing.
Peter said: “As a company Frankie and Benny’s sponsors youth sports of all kinds right across the country, lending its support to everything from dance and judo teams.
“Where a youth team needs some backing we like to get involved because we think it is important to create strong links with the local community.
“When I discovered that the Borras Park Rangers Under 12s, as the Under 15s then were, could do with some help I was delighted to get Frankie and Benny’s involved.
“The arrangement initially began with the restaurant sponsoring new kits for all the team’s 16 players and it has carried on, very successfully from there.
“This will be the third time we have provided the team with new kit and the latest one is very smart. The shirt is black and white and there are also shorts and socks in the same colour scheme.
“Apart from the kits, we regularly invite all the team members, and often their parents too, to social gathering at the restaurant, and we display their trophies behind the counter.
“They have their Christmas parties with us and they also come here to celebrate their successes on the field, which happen quite regularly I’m delighted to say as my son Callum is quite a handy midfielder with the team.
“In fact, Callum scored one of the goals – a full-blooded lob into the corner of the net – when Rangers beat Borras Park Albion 8-2 in the season opener at Wrexham Rigby Club on Saturday.
“I’m sure the high class kits the restaurant provides them with helps them to look professional and be so successful on the field.”
This belief is shared by the team’s coach, Annette Roberts, who explained that the Under 15s have enjoyed some spectacular successes.
Annette, whose son 14-year-old Scott, has played for the team for the past five years and has just come back from a broken ankle he received last season, said: “They won the Under 14s Wrexham and District League last season and had also won it the previous year as Under 13s.
“Last season the team won the North East Wales Cup, which is contested by sides from across Wrexham and neighbouring Flintshire. That was the match in which my son Scott was injured. They were also runners-up in the Wrexham League Cup.
“They’ve just had a good pre-season and have beaten teams playing at Under 16s level.
“The sponsorship the team has received from Frankie and Benny’s over the past four years has meant such a lot to the players.
“We do our own fundraising but this couldn’t have covered the cost of the fantastic kits the restaurant has provided.
“We’re all sure that the smart appearance it gives them has helped them do so well. We’re very grateful for the continuing support of Frankie and Benny’s.”
Agreeing with this view was 14-year-old Jay McKevitt-Harvey who is now in his third year of playing with the team
Jay, from Garden Village, who had admirable 20 goals to his credit last season, said: “The kits we are given by Frankie and Benny’s make you feel professional and play well when you come out for a game. I’m really grateful for the support they give to the team.”
It was the same story from Jay’s 14-year-old team-mate Celyn Roberts, of Rhosnesni, who is a veteran of four years with Rangers and scored twice last season.
Celyn said: “The kits look really smart and you can’t help but feel extremely professional when you put them on. I’d also like to thank Frankie and Benny’s for all their support for the team.”
Borras Park Rangers was founded in 2002 and now has successful eight teams, starting with Under 8s, based at Wrexham Rugby Club.
