The North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce is hoping for Blackpool FC to tower over its next opponents as part of the organisation’s centenary celebrations.
The Chamber’s landmark year continues with a match sponsorship package as the Seasiders play host to Wigan Athletic in Sky Bet League One, their penultimate game of the 2015/16 campaign. Neil McDonald’s side will be hoping to do the double against their promotion-seeking visitors after beating them 1-0 in December’s reverse league meeting.
Victory in their last home game of the season will aid Blackpool’s survival hopes for this season, while Wigan need three points in their bid for an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.
“We wanted to mark our milestone with a range of events and this is the latest in what has been a thoroughly enjoyable year so far,” said Babs Murphy, the Chamber’s Chief Executive.
The trip to Bloomfield Road is the last of four match sponsorship packages taken out by the Chamber to mark 100 years in existence, following on from similar deals at Fylde Rugby, Preston Grasshoppers and Preston North End.
Among the Chamber’s guests will be representatives from their centenary patrons, RBS and Moore and Smalley.
“As a company with a base in Blackpool, we take a keen interest in what’s happening at Bloomfield Road,” said Graham Gordon from Moore and Smalley.
“While results may not have gone the way everyone at the club would have liked, we hope Saturday will provide a much needed three points.”
“Blackpool is another of English football’s legendary clubs thanks to the likes of Sir Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Armfield, Alan Ball and Stan Mortensen,” added Stephen Ford from RBS.
“Hopefully they can end their home season on a winning note and give their supporters something to shout about.”
Other events to mark the Chamber’s centenary have included a church service and proclamation, a House of Commons reception and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Conference.
Attention will now switch to the events taking place for the remainder of the year, including May’s black tie business dinner, Armed Forces Day in June and the BIBAs, which are held in September.
