MIDDLESBROUGH FC have signed a seven-figure, three-year shirt sponsorship deal with Ramsdens that will see the name of one of Teesside's fastest growing businesses appear on the front of club shirts through to 2014.
An evolution from Boro's successful monthly shirt sponsorships, the deal also includes Ramsdens' logo appearing on club shirts throughout March, April and May of the current campaign in addition to the current four-month deal that runs through to the end of January.
Ramsdens, which has its head office and 10 of its 80 branches in the Tees Valley region, is the largest family-owned pawnbroker in the UK and was recently included in the prestigious Sunday Times newspaper's Virgin Fast Track list of the UK's fastest growing companies.
Peter Kenyon, Ramsdens' Chief Executive, said: "The change of manager to Tony Mowbray, meaning a Teesside club led by a passionate Teesside chairman and Teesside manager, attracted us to cement a longer term relationship with the club. It is at the heart of the Tees Valley community and we wanted to be involved.
"With 10 branches across the Teesside area, many of our loyal, long-standing customers are fans of the club and we had some great customer feedback on our involvement so far.
"The sponsorship to date has given Ramsdens an opportunity to make people aware of who we are and what we do and that we are more than just a pawnbroker.
"We have an award-winning internet presence and brightly lit shops on many high streets.
"We offer a great variety of services and if the customer wants to buy or sell jewellery, sell their mobile phone, get their travel money or just want some cash for a few weeks or months we can offer customers a good deal.
"We have faith that the club can get back on track and be successful in the future, hence our willingness to sign up to a long term deal now."
Neil Bausor, Middlesbrough FC's Chief Operating Officer, said: "This is our most important sponsorship deal and is a significant boost in our quest to get the club heading back towards the Premier League as quickly as possible.
"The deal is very much an evolution from our groundbreaking monthly sponsorship approach, which has ultimately helped us secure a first class partner for the next three-and-a-half years.
"We are delighted to have secured such an excellent partner in Ramsdens, who we have forged an outstanding working relationship with since they joined us as our third monthly shirt sponsors earlier this season.
"They are great people to work with and we are proud to be associated with a Teesside business that is enjoying great national success. Ramsdens is a genuine Teesside success story.
"We now have a Teesside chairman in Steve Gibson, a Teesside manager in Tony Mowbray and a Teesside sponsor in Ramsdens, with all three passionate about taking the club forward."
Ramsdens Financial Limited is a privately-owned business which was founded in Middlesbrough in the 1950s and has grown to become the largest independent pawnbroker in the UK with 80 shops across Wales, Scotland and northern England.
It was founded by Herbert Smith, father of current Chairman, Stewart Smith who was recently given the region's highest accolade - North East Business Executive of the Year.
Earlier this year the financial services firm secured a substantial multi-million pound funding facility to enable it to grow turnover to £50m, create 130 jobs and hit the 100- store milestone by the end of 2012.
This growth was recognised by its listing in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table which sees Ramsdens following in the footsteps of big name companies such as Innocent (smoothies) and online card company Moonpig.com, both of which have appeared in previous lists.
