Family Roots Lead to Football Boots

Oct 31, 2022

Football highlights are on the cards as a north east PR agency has sponsored a local under 7’s football team. 

Keith Newman who runs Highlights PR from Ulgham near Morpeth heard that Willington Quay Saints were looking for a sponsor and a series of personal circumstances from his past led to him firmly hitting the back of the net to help the team. 

Willington Quay Saints was originally formed by Graham Ford almost 25 years ago. A charity football match in 2010 between the senior team and fans of the club raised a lot of money for charity and ever since the “Fordy Cup” has been played each year in memory of Graham who passed away in 2010.  Since then more than £40,000 has been raised with the British Heart Foundation benefiting.  

Despite raising money for charity, the management team wanted to create a new venture as a legacy for Graham. As a result, Willington Quay Saints Juniors was set up again in 2019 after a 17-year absence with six teams from Under 7’s to Under 12’s.

Now, Willington Quay Saints are one of the biggest clubs in the region with 16 junior teams, the senior team and an over 40’s team. 

Keith heard about the sponsorship opportunity after an SOS was put out by the North Tyneside Business Forum and the request triggered a lot of thoughts which led to him sponsoring the boys and girls in the Under 7’s team. 

“I’d just attended the funeral of my Uncle Arthur and when I was there, I discovered that he was a coach and fan of the club. There were lots of players paying their respects and it was clear that he was a big part of their football scene,” said Keith.

“I then thought about my late dad who was born in a terraced house under the Seven Arches Viaduct in Willington Quay which was subsequently bombed during World War Two and then the connections came thick and fast. Myself and my sister were born in Willington Quay Maternity Hospital and my very first job was in a clothing factory in the town too. There were far too many connections not to sponsor the team. Someone somewhere was giving me a lot of reasons to help the kids.” 

Keith discussed the sponsorship with Arthur’s wife Diane and decided to kit out the Under 7’s with full match day strips and a full set of training kit for each player.

“It’s really important to encourage young people to take part in sport. I was never any good at football but loved watching it. There are so many benefits to keeping fit at a young age and I want to help the kids with a good start in their potential football career,” he said. “I’ve been to see the team play and it was a great experience especially as they won.” 

Vikki Ford-Henderson, treasurer, and lead of the club and also the daughter of Graham was delighted that Highlights PR had helped the club.

“It’s fantastic that businesses like Highlights PR have supported our teams. We have a lot of business sponsors and every penny that they give goes towards buying kit for the players – many who would struggle to pay for the full kit themselves with the rising cost of living. We are very grateful.”

Ends

Photo: Keith left with team members, coach Liam Hunter and Keith’s Aunty Diane. (Photo Tom Stewart) 

PR and media keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951 

Editors Notes

Highlights PR are based in Morpeth, but they work from a floating office on the River Tyne. Highlights is a 24ft cabin cruiser with Wi-Fi, desks etc 

The firm has been going 17 years and has clients including  The People’s Kitchen, North Tyneside Business Forum, town councils, music festivals, entertainers and Royal Quays Outlet Centre. 

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