Award Winning Partnership

In a major sponsorship deal, the Sussex based car dealer group, Lifestyle Europe, has teamed up with East Grinstead Hockey Club, the reigning Slazenger England Hockey League Premiership champions.

Having won the league title for the first time in the tournament’s twenty year history, the club has reached new heights, including being awarded the title of England Hockey Club of the Year and, with a crop of England first team regulars amongst its ranks, including the England captain Glen Kirkham, the club has reached an all time high.

Following the Premiership triumph, which came off the back of two indoor championship wins earlier in the season, the club has set its sights on moving up a gear and conquering the European Hockey League and additional support is all the more important, as club captain, Philip Coote, explains:

“This has been a historic year and we’re all now hungry to take our game to the next level and make our mark in Europe. With the challenges next season will bring, it’s vital that we work with a solid team of partners and to secure the backing of Lifestyle, one of the UK’s best performing motor retail businesses, will give us another boost in helping to raise our profile.”

The sponsorship package sees a considerable investment from Lifestyle, including the presentation on Saturday of a brand new Ford Kuga to the men’s first team player/coach, Mark Pearn.

Peter Isted, managing director at Lifestyle, was looking forward to another successful year for both parties:

“At Lifestyle, we’ve received a few awards ourselves this year, including Sussex Business of the Year, but it’s important to look past the bottom line in a business and realise that these wins came about through strong teamwork. That’s what we admire about East Grinstead Hockey Club, which is a tremendous asset to the area, running teams for people from 6 years old and upwards. We wanted to support the club in the best way possible and develop an award winning partnership to take our brands forward into the forthcoming season and the London Olympics in 2012.”

As well as its trio of championship wins, East Grinstead reached the quarter finals of the 2009 European League in its first year of entry. To follow the team’s progress next season, visit www.egsc.org.uk/hockeyclub.html.

Lifestyle Europe, which operates Ford, Mazda, Renault, Subaru and Isuzu dealerships across Sussex Surrey and Kent, this year picked up the coveted motor industry title of Best Retail Group for the second year running. Information and special deals can be found at www.lifestyleeurope.co.uk.