Hartlepool United have signed a ground-breaking partnership deal which will see Victoria Park re-named as The Northern Gas and Power Stadium.
The three-year agreement is one of the biggest in the Club’s history and will also include Northern Gas and Power emblazoned on Pools’ away shirts.
Negotiated by Club owners JPNG, the landmark deal will see Northern Gas and Power – whose Head Office is based in Gateshead – become major partners for the start of 2016/17.
In welcoming them to Hartlepool United, Club Chairman Gary Coxall commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Northern Gas and Power as partners of Hartlepool United.
“When we took over as owners of the Football Club we told supporters that we would look to bring in new lines of investment and expand our commercial reach, and I think this partnership highlights that initiative.
“We know it’s up to us to go out and source new sponsorship and Northern Gas and Power are a strong brand who will represent us well so they were our choice over four or five different companies.
“I think the partnership also demonstrates what an attraction we have become now to be bring in sponsorship from a great, forward-thinking company who have bought in to the brand of Hartlepool United.
“During negotiations between the two parties it became clear very quickly that we were on the same wavelength and I am delighted that we managed to agree a deal that will serve us both very well.
“We’re fully aware of the sensitivities around the re-naming of football stadiums but we hope our supporters understand that this partnership has been negotiated with the best interests of the Football Club at heart.
“The history and tradition of Hartlepool United and everything the Club means to fans is very important to us – but so is the future. Other clubs have been benefitting from this type of deal and we don’t want to be left behind so we have to do the same to bring income in to the Football Club.”
Sean McCann, European Director for Northern Gas and Power said: “We’re delighted to have secured this partnership with Hartlepool United.
“Not only are we both proud of our North East roots, the Club shares many of our core values, such as being intrinsically focused, extremely ambitious, and having the drive to succeed on a bigger stage.
“Our partnership with Hartlepool United will be of major benefit to both parties and we look forward to working closely together over the course of the next three seasons.”
Northern Gas and Power have successfully expanded in to the global energy market, adding offices in America, France and India to complement their state-of- the-art Head Office on the Gateshead Quayside.
This expansion has enabled Northern Gas and Power to embark on an extensive recruitment programme throughout all offices, including creating 200 new jobs for the North East region.