A YEADON-based rugby club is to get thousands of pounds from seven new partnerships with local businesses.

Yorkshire Division Three rugby union club Aireborough RUFC will benefit from a £12,000 investment towards the maintenance and development of its pitches and facilities - which cost around £15,000 per year to maintain.

Club chairman Graeme Foster said: “We are overwhelmed by the generous donations from each of our sponsors and can’t thank them enough for the support that they have already shown.

“The additional funds mean that we can continue with the development of our pitches and facilities, thus further enhancing the support we offer to our members and the wider community.”

Junior chairman Andrew Wood added:“As a club, we strive to continuously develop the services we offer to our members and the funds we have received from our sponsors will support this mission.”

The news of the sponsorships was announced at a kit launch event, during which each of the 200 plus playing members received a shirt carrying the sponsors’ logos. Each sponsor was also presented with a personalised anniversary shirt .To celebrate the club’s upcoming 50th season the new shirts replicate the design used throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

The club, founded in 1970, comprises ten junior and two senior teams and is home to more than 250 members aged four and upwards.

Over the past few years, the club has offered free rugby-fit sessions, collected unused kit to send to third world countries and launched a mental health in sport initiative, T.A.C.K.L.E.

To find out more about Aireborough RUFC or the sponsorship programme, email rob@synoeducation.co.uk. The club is receiving funding from Brands Creative Ltd, Fire Investigations UK, Hunters Estate Agents Yeadon, Leuly Photography and PR, Spencer Woods Accountants, we change it and The Potting Shed Guiseley have each signed either a one or two-year sponsorship deal with the club.