Warwickshire secures G4S sponsorship for academy stars

SECURITY firm G4S Events has been unveiled as the new sponsor of Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s training academy, community and youth team programmes.

As part of the five-year agreement, G4S Events will provide stewarding and security for all events at Edgbaston and will be the shirt sponsor for all of Warwickshire’s youth teams. It will also support the club’s development programme for schools and junior cricket clubs across the region.

Eric Alexander, managing director of G4S Events, said: “Providing security services for the UK’s second-largest cricketing venue, whilst supporting one of the leading youth team development programmes in the country, is a great opportunity that we’re all excited about at G4S Events.

“We’re looking forward to utilising our stewarding and security capabilities to help enhance all events at Edgbaston, and hope that this sponsorship can help the club develop even more talented young cricketers that take to the field for Warwickshire and England in the future.”

Since 1997, 30 Warwickshire youth team cricketers have gone on to play first class cricket, with five of these going on to win international honours, including England stars Ian Bell and Chris Woakes. Additionally, 60% of the club’s academy cricketers have gone on to play the game professionally.

James McLaughlin, outgoing Commercial Director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “The new £32m redevelopment and the increased number of events at Edgbaston has given us many new innovative sponsorship opportunities for industry leading brands. This sponsorship package of the academy is a perfect example of this, which will help many of our young cricketers progress their careers in the game.

“G4S is vastly experienced in providing stewarding and security for some of the leading sporting venues across the UK, and we’re very excited to work with them on our exciting range of events at Edgbaston in the future.”