New and continued sponsorships of local football clubs across the UK this year have helped to support our Copart Cares 💙 commitment to communities and good causes.
Partnerships like these not only help us to build strong relationships within the communities in which we operate, but also give us the opportunity to show our support for activities and causes that are important to our teammates and customers.
These are just a few of the community partnerships we have established and strengthened during 2022.
Armadale Thistle
This year, we were delighted to announce our sponsorship of Armadale Thistle Football Club in West Lothian, Scotland. The Club has a well-established history in the area having played at Volunteer Park in Armadale since 1936.
We have committed to a two-year sponsorship of the Armadale Thistle U17’s junior team, who play in the West Lothian League (WLAYFC) with a programme of 24 league games both home and away.
With our Whitburn Operation Centre only four miles away from the club grounds, this partnership will be a great way for us to engage with the community and enhance our presence in the local area. One of our teammates is also the Club Secretary/Treasurer, and her son plays for the team.
Coach David Taylor said:
“A huge thank you to Copart for their kind sponsorship of our team – it is greatly appreciated.
Without sponsorship, increased fees in the current climate could result in the loss of players and more importantly the lack of activity, social settings, and team spirit, as some families may not have the means to pay more.
Our volunteer coaches can now concentrate on coaching, knowing the boys are looked after and have the kit they require to look like a team, which in turn gives them pride in what they do.”
Reffly FC
Reffley Youth Football Club is based in Kings Lynn, near to our Operation Centre in Wisbech.
Run by volunteers for 40 years, this community club has teams from Under 7s up to Under 16s who play in the Mid/West youth league and participate in various summer tournaments around Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambs.
The son of one of our Wisbech teammates plays for the Under 11s, who had been seeking a sponsor to fund a kit for their fast-growing team! We were happy to step in and help, providing sponsorship for their new home kit for 2022/2023.
The team plays in the Mid Norfolk Youth League, where they have weekly friendly games. Next year they will progress to the Under 12s where they will play competitively, and we can’t wait to cheer them on!
Mark Kilvington, Club Chairman, said:
“A massive part in our success is the generosity of local companies like Copart, who have kindly sponsored a new home kit for our Under 11s team.
This gesture means the team is lucky enough to wear Nike footballs kits, and it’s been fantastic to see the team receive and enjoy these new kits.
It means a lot to the children and us as a club, and as Chairman, I would personally like to thank Copart for their kind sponsorship which is very much appreciated.”
Harold Wood Cougars
We were happy to support a cause close to the heart of one of our insurance customers with our sponsorship of Harold Wood Cougars Youth Football Club in Essex.
In addition to strengthening our business partnership, our Rochford Operation Centre is located in the Essex area, meaning that we can also give something back to a community in which we operate.
Copart has sponsored the Harold Wood Cougars U15 Reds team, who have been playing in the BCFA Youth League. The team has done us proud on the pitch in their new Copart-branded kits and are currently in 4th position on the league table.
Volunteer Coach, Pat Culverhouse, said:
“The sponsorship from Copart has been a wonderful help for us this year – we’ve been able to get new kits, winter jackets, and some much-needed training equipment.
We are all extremely grateful that we get this support to allow the boys to continue to have fun and enjoy themselves at the sport they love with their friends.”
Saintfield United
Copart has sponsored the senior teams at SUFC (a community football club in Saintfield, County Down, local to our Operation Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland) since 2018.
We’ve continued to support their ambitious growth plans as they seek to expand and provide Saintfield and the wider community with excellent facilities to participate in amateur football.
As well as renewing our contract as primary sponsor of SUFC for the next five years, we’re excited to now be investing into the youth teams and programmes through a partnership with CashForCars.co.uk, Copart’s online car buying service.
Jason Gallagher, SUFC Treasurer, said:
“Saintfield United Football Club was founded in 1972, and we have recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary, so it is deeply engrained within the local community.
Thanks to sponsorship provided by a range of local businesses, and in particular Copart, we have been able to construct a new pitch (one of the best in the amateur league), double our senior membership, and add two senior teams which compete in the Newcastle and District league, helping to provide a service to a greater number of people in the local community.
Without the support of our main sponsor Copart, and more recently Cash4Cars – the new shirt sponsor for our youth team – I’m not sure this would be possible. We look forward to continuing our relationship and moving forward together for years to come.”
We’re really looking forward to seeing these community partnerships go from strength-to-strength in 2023!