Eagerly awaiting the new football season? So are we thanks to an exciting new partnership with Rotherham United Football Club. Here's the official news story from the club.

Rotherham United are thrilled to confirm that the Diamond Partnership agreement which was established last season and saw local businesses pledge their selfless financial support in the name of charity will continue throughout the 2024/25 season.

It fills us with pride to once again place on-record our wholehearted thanks to AESSEAL, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group and Steelphalt who form an alliance to become this season’s Diamond Partners and, in turn, provide Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice with the opportunity to be front and centre on our first team kits throughout the upcoming campaign.

Bluebell Wood is very much a ‘diamond’ of a charity in the local area and provides people from our community and beyond with love, respite and a depth of care that few other services are able to provide, often in the most challenging of circumstances.

The amazing staff at Bluebell Wood provide support for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions. The families they support and the communities they serve, know just how important it is that we ensure its indefinite longevity.

Their services have helped to support hundreds of families from across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire, ensuring that tired mums and dads get some much needed me-time; looked after brothers and sisters who are feeling angry, lonely or confused; and been there for families during the last moments of their child’s life.

The agreement will once again present us with countless opportunities to shine a light on all of the amazing work that Bluebell Wood carries out throughout the year and help us to drive their fundraising efforts as a charity that relies on the compassion shown by those in the area and beyond whose donations are the reason that they are able to continue caring for people in the way that they do. 

Steve Coakley, Commercial Director said, “We are immensely proud to say that we will proudly carry the Bluebell Wood logo and the message that it holds around the country with us as our main front of shirt sponsor this season, which has once again been made possible thanks to the kindness of five Diamond Partners.

“On behalf of everyone at Rotherham United I want to reiterate how truly grateful we are to AESSEAL, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group and Steelphalt for once again being so charitable with their own resources to facilitate this amazing Diamond Partnership. Their kindness – particularly in the current financial climate – should not be underplayed and having seen the impact of this arrangement for the Rotherham Hospice last season, we know how much this will mean to everyone associated with Bluebell Wood.

“To elaborate on that point, this partnership represents much more than a shirt sponsorship agreement. Not only does it align with all of our values and beliefs as a club that we recognise the role we have to play at the heart of the community, it will also significantly increase the public profile of Bluebell Wood and present them with a number of fundraising opportunities that might not previously have been possible.

“It goes without saying that we will look to maximise that exposure and use our own status both as a club and in our community work to ensure that our second year of having a group of Diamond Partners on-board is as successful as the first.”

Heidi Hawkins, Bluebell Wood's Chief Executive, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be Rotherham United’s new Diamond Partner for 2024/2025. The new shirts look amazing and having our logo proudly on the front means such a lot to everyone at Bluebell Wood as well as all the families we support in Rotherham and beyond."

“Thank you so much to Rotherham United, AESSEAL, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears Group and Steelphalt for their fantastic support.”