Lifestiles Backs Footballing Outsiders for Live National TV Game

LIFESTILES, providers of handmade and hand finished clay and slate roof tiles for heritage, period and prestige properties, is sponsoring AFC Sudbury football club’s men’s first team, with their logo and website emblazoned on the back of footballers’ shirts.

The Isthmian League North Division side has just reached the first round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win over Dartford, making them the lowest ranked team to qualify for the next round – and the match is to be broadcast live across the nation on BBC2, kicking off at 7.55 on the evening of 5^th November 2021.

Lifestiles Director, Dave Osborn, says that he took the decision to sponsor the team as a way of supporting the club as a community asset.  He commented “AFC Sudbury is only about ten miles from Lifestiles’ Toppesfield base in North Essex, and the club is well known and supported in the community for its junior teams, its exceptional academy and elite ladies’ teams, as well as its men’s adult sides.

“We wanted to both contribute to bringing our rural community to national attention, and to be part of the journey as we become a more nationally appreciated supplier to the trade, developers and consumers.”

In the next round of the cup, AFC Sudbury have the home advantage and have drawn the most local of opponents in Colchester United, based just 14 miles from the Sudbury’s MEL Group stadium.  It is hoped that a capacity 2,000 fans will be able to watch the game, subject to local council and police agreement.

AFC Sudbury’s Chairman Andrew Long said: “We are both grateful and delighted to have Lifestiles, a local company successfully growing across the country, as a major sponsor at this exciting point in time.  Remember, this follows two incredibly tough years for non-league football, with neither the matchday nor sponsorship revenue that we rely on to operate.  Since the start of the season, our aim has been to put smiles on people’s faces, and give everyone a much deserved lift. So this cup tie is not just a huge event for the club, but for the community too – and Lifestiles’ contribution is most welcome.”

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