Disabled North-East footballers are looking matchday-ready after finding their perfect match with a new sponsor.

The Robin Centre, a day care provider, based in Middlesbrough, has announced it will be supporting Redcar Athletic Football Club’s disabled team with donations of kit and equipment.

The day care centre, which is part of the Newlands Group, has kitted out the team in smart new red and white strips, provided new practice balls and match balls, and supplied water bottles for each player.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Redcar Athletic Football Club’s disabled team in their smart new kit sponsored by The Robin

Sarah Fowell, who runs the team, said: “We’re all delighted that the Robin Centre and the Newlands Group are backing us, and we want to say a big thank you.

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“We joined Redcar Athletic FC this year because we hoped to grow the team, and it’s brilliant to see it already paying off. We now have 24 active players, and thanks to the Robin Centre’s backing, they really look the part.”

Darlington and Stockton Times: Redcar Athletic Football Club’s disabled team in action in their new kit

The team competes at the championship level in the regional pan-disability league, regularly playing against other teams, while developing good mobility, tactical awareness, and fitness.

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Vicky Hubery, Day Services Manager for the Robin Centre, and Antony Lewis, Newland Group Marketing Manager, visited the team at their training ground, at Middlesbrough Sports Village, to present the players with the new strip.

Vicky said: “One of the players who attends the Robin Centre brought the team to our attention, and I knew straight away it was the sort of fantastic community sporting initiative that the Newlands Group loves to support.”

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Antony added: “It’s been a pleasure to come down today and present the members with their new kit and have a kickabout with them. We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the team, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they do this season.”

Newlands Group, which has its headquarters in Darlington, has a portfolio comprising healthcare, recruitment, education, and property, with business brands including Care Matters, Tribe Recruitment, Tribe Search, and Turn Left, as well as The Robin Centre.