Montpelier Health Centre to sponsor Glos Women
6 May 2016
Montpelier Health Centre has become the first ever sponsor of the Gloucestershire Women’s cricket team.
The Bristol-based NHS doctors’ surgery’s logo will appear on the side’s new yellow and black kit for the next two years.
Dr Kim Hearn, senior partner at Montpelier Health Centre said: “We are thrilled and excited to be the first sponsors of Gloucestershire Women squad and we are looking forward to watching their results over the summer and beyond.
“This deal cements further the growing relationship that we have with both the Gloucestershire Cricket Board and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club over the last few years.
The new partnership was officially launched the Brightside Ground, Bristol – the home of Gloucestershire Cricket – on the eve of the squad’s first league match.
The players had photographs taken in the new kit and were given free health checks by staff from the Montpelier Health Centre.
The sponsorship means that squad members will receive their kit – the same as that worn by the Gloucestershire men’s Royal London One-Day Cup team – free of charge for the first time.
Gloucestershire Cricket Board chief executive Steve Silk said: “We are delighted to have Montpelier Health Centre as the first ever sponsor of the Gloucestershire Women.
“The profile and professionalism of the women’s game is growing all the time and this partnership will help ensure our players are a part of that.”
Gloucestershire Women play in the Division 3 of the ECB 50 over competition after winning promotion last year. They are also targeting promotion in the T20 tournament following relegation in 2015.
The squad for this season has been bolstered by Australian overseas player Bhavi Devchand and a growing number of talented youngsters including Danielle Gibson (15), Alice Hill (16) and Eve Alder (17) who have all been selected in England Women’s Development Squads in recent years.
Gloucestershire Women’s captain Charlie Walker said the sponsorship would boost the young squad.
She said: “As a team we are really grateful to Montpelier Health for their sponsorship. It's an exciting time for Gloucestershire women's cricket, and the county women's game in general, with the profile constantly on the rise. Sponsors like Montpelier are the catalysts that make this happen. Their support is truly appreciated by the whole squad and we intend to do them proud this season by fulfilling the huge potential that this young, talented squad possesses.”
The Gloucestershire Women are coached by Steve Dent and received additional support during the winter from Gloucestershire Cricket opening batsman Chris Dent.
Neil Higginson, executive manager at Montpelier Health Centre said the sponsorship tied in with the practice’s key messages.
He added: “The sponsorship provides us with an excellent platform to reach out to a wide community and reinforce the health and wellbeing message through sport."
Glos lost their first match against Derbyshire last weekend but bounced back with a 10 wicket win against Norfolk at Dumbleton.
The home side bowled the visitors out for just 73 with Gibson - on her home ground - taking 4-9 from her seven overs. She was well-supported by the whole attack inclusing spinners Charlie Phillips (Bath) who took 2-13 from 10 overs and Devchand whose 2-8 came off nine overs with five maidens.
Gloucestershire's target was reduced to 37 due to rain and they cruised to the winning total in just 4.1 overs without losing a wicket thanks to 20 from Gibson and 10 from Bethan Moorcraft.
For the full scorecard go to http://gloscb.play-cricket.com/website/results/2613772
The team are next in action against Scotland at Gloucester City Winget at 11am on May 15.
For more information on Gloucestershire Women please go to http://www.gloucestershirecricketboard.com/county-women
To find out more about Montpelier Health Centre please visit http://montpelierhealthcentre.co.uk/
