Marjon signs sponsorship deal with Plymouth Raiders
Released: 05.10.16
The University has signed a five year deal to become a sponsor and new training base for the Plymouth Raiders basketball team.
The deal will see the Raiders move their 1st team squad of professional players to the Marjon campus in Derriford, where they will train in the sports hall, use the on-campus Gym, Strength & Conditioning Suite and Sports Rehabilitation & Therapy Clinic.
Raiders Chief Executive Dave Briggs said the deal was of benefit to both Raiders and Marjon:
“We are delighted to be working with a great institution like Marjon, using their outstanding sports facilities and giving their students opportunities to work and interact with professional athletes on a daily basis.
“The partnership will us help get stronger as a club and allow us to work on some exciting projects that will take us to a new level altogether. It’s an exciting partnership and will give our players fantastic opportunities to improve on and off the court by using Marjon’s high quality equipment for analysis and development.”
Marjon was recently ranked 4th university in the UK for sports facilities (Times Higher Education) and is the only university in the South West to have nationally accredited Sports Science laboratories. The University’s Dean of Faculty for Sport & Health Sciences Professor Andrew Edwards said:
“Our agreement with the Plymouth Raiders provides them with a single on-site training base and gives us access to professional athletes which is invaluable for students on programmes such as Sport Coaching, Sports Therapy, Strength & Conditioning and Sport & Exercise Science. This partnership further reinforces Marjon’s commitment and reputation as a nationally recognised hub of sports programmes.”
The commercial Marjon gym, 3G sport pitch, swimming pool, climbing wall, hockey complex and Grandstand Café are widely known and used commercial and community facilities by people across the city.
Professor Edwards added: “We have many community sports & recreational members of our gym and sports centre but we are very welcoming to new members too. We encourage local community members to join our sports centre and take advantage of mixing with a diverse membership in our facilities.”
Dr Karen Cook, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University further emphasised Marjon’s commitment to the local and regional community: “Not only are the Plymouth Raiders among the top professional basketball teams in the country, they also share our commitment to the community and to raising aspirations of young people across the UK.
“We look forward to working with the club to inspire future generations to participate in sport, to recognise the benefits of teamwork, the value of a good education and the belief that young people in the South West can achieve their goals.”
Members of the public can see Plymouth Raiders in action at the next Marjon Open Day on Saturday 15 October. The team will be training between 1300- 1400 in the sports hall and there’s a chance to get free tickets to the first official game with Marjon as sponsors the following day. On Sunday 16 October the Raiders take on Manchester Giants at Plymouth Pavilions.
See the Plymouth Raiders at Marjon’s next Open Day on 15 October.
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