Lock Assist and Cuckfield Cosmos U11 bolting down a partnership

The shirts would feature the sponsor’s business name but they desperately needed new shorts and socks as well and despite an awful lot of door knocking, cold calling and worn soles, things weren’t looking good.

Neil said, “Every year, it’s getting harder and harder to find sponsors for the team and I was getting to the stage of thinking it was likely they’d spend another year playing in the old worn kit which certainly wasn’t ideal. 3 of our teams play in the Mid Sussex League and I wanted our boys to start the new season with new kit.

“Some of the kit was showing signs of wear and also getting too small for a lot of the players. The teams have been very successful over the years and I wanted them to look and feel the part, too.”

But with time running out, his luck changed when he called in on local master locksmiths, Lock Assist at their premises in Eastern Road, Haywards Heath.

Unbeknown to Neil, Paul Harper-Smith, Lock Assist’s director, had narrowly missed out on sponsoring a local team in 2013 which honour instead went to a national business. After several meetings between Neil and Paul and lots of caffeine, it was finally agreed that the established local master locksmiths of 11 years would sponsor the U11 team for the next 3 years!

Paul said, “When Neil and his son, Rian, first called into the shop, We could see how enthusiastic they were about the club and that was quite infectious although I have to admit, I didn’t know of Cuckfield Cosmos! Neil then explained how successful the U11 teams were and how the club were looking for a local business to work with who could contribute to the large cost of funding over 50 complete new kits but in return, the business would benefit by having their name on the football shirts. Straight from the off, this was something we were interested in supporting.”

A couple of weeks later, Paul, who started as an apprentice locksmith over 30 years ago, was invited along to the team’s prize giving event and received a very warm welcome when Lock Assist was announced as the new sponsor.

It’s always good to see local businesses giving something back by supporting and working with their communities which, in turn, helps everyone.

If you have a child with an interest in playing football locally, go to http://www.cuckfieldcosmosfc.co.uk for more details.

If you have a lock or door with an interest in working properly, go to http://www.lockassist.co.uk or call 01444 244 344 for more details.