“It all started with a board,” said Chris Milton, Off-Trade & Export Sales Director for Thatchers when asked how their relationship with Torquay United started.
The pitch side advertising board was placed at Plainmoor before Chris joined Thatchers which is a relief for him “That’s great because I can’t be accused of putting it there because it happens to be my club!”
Torquay United is certainly Chris Milton’s club, having taken in his first game standing alongside his dad at Plainmoor on September 6th, 1969. Bury were the opponents that day and having Thatchers as the current Popside Terrace sponsors at Plainmoor is of particular pride for Chris, who also remembers some of the characters that supported the team.
“To see Thatchers across the Popside is a buzz. There have been some tremendous characters that I couldn’t even put a name to, but there were some tremendous wags that used to be in the crowd. It’s just simple things that stay with you, but it’s the people more than anything. It’s a brilliant club that gets under your skin.”
Much like the current crop of players that are looking to cement their names in United folklore, Chris remembers the players that made an impression on him growing up.
“The heroes when I first started were the likes of Andy Donnelly, Bill Kitchener, Cecil Smyth, Alan Welsh, Eric Welsh – it was a wonderful team. I think of Jimmy Dunne, one of the greats we had at the club. I think of players like Les Lawrence who was a massive hit with all of us. We have had some fantastic players: Matt Elliott, Darren Moore. All the way through my life I have been proud to say that I’m a Torquay United fan.”
Thatchers have been big supporters of United – as well as South West sport in general – since adding a pitch side advertising board at Plainmoor in 2008.
Thatchers has been making cider for over four generations and continue to be a family-run business to this day. And even though it has become an international brand, being sold in 22 countries, it remains based in Somerset. Their aim is to stay true to the people that grew the business with them, and that includes Torquay United.
“Our relationship is built around the right values in our view, which is about loyalty, about honesty, and about sticking with people through thick and thin,” added Chris. The Covid pandemic has ensured that support from businesses like Thatchers is more valuable than ever for United.
“Where a lot of businesses are maybe not wanting to engage and to invest money in sponsorship, we’ve made our commitments, we’ve got our contracts, and we’re happy to do that. We’re very much a Westcountry business and we support Westcountry sport, even down to grass roots levels.”
Covid has brought many challenges to businesses, but Chris is complimentary about how United have dealt with this challenge.
“I think the club’s been incredibly proactive in this period of time and I can compare it to other clubs around the region. It has been really well supported and we just want to feel a part of that.”
With Thatchers sponsoring our home match against Hartlepool United, plans are already underway for an exciting offer in time for that match.
“We’re all having to do things differently; we’re now streaming our football. I think it’s important that Gary [Johnson] and the squad know that the sponsors are right behind them, that’s why we’re sponsoring the match. We are going to try and bring that sponsorship alive for the fans with some opportunities, maybe a prize of two. We’re hoping to come up with an interesting offer to maybe encourage people to sign up to the game.”
Torquay United would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris and all at Thatchers for their continued support of the club.
For more information on our match sponsorship packages, please contact Commercial Manager Sharon Cox on 07949 005832 or email [email protected]