Scunthorpe United’s new state-of-the-art stadium will be built using homemade steel after the Iron forged a new partnership with British Steel.
The agreement will also see British Steel’s new brand appear on the League One club’s kit for the 2016-17 season.British Steel’s Commercial Director Peter Hogg said: “We’re delighted steel made in Scunthorpe will be used in The Iron’s new stadium. It promises to be one of the finest grounds in the Football League and it makes perfect sense that we join forces on this project.
“Scunthorpe steel has already been used in many top class sporting venues, including the Olympic Stadium that West Ham United are moving into and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. And while we are a global company, support from the communities we operate in is crucial - so this is a huge show of confidence in British Steel and the quality of steel we produce.”
The Iron players start the new season on Saturday 6 August when they play Bristol Rovers at their current Glanford Park home. When the team runs out of the tunnel they will be wearing a new blue shirt with claret pinstripes – emblazoned with the British Steel brand.
Peter Hogg said: “British Steel’s core values are pride, passion and performance – values I know we share with Scunthorpe United.
“Like everyone else in the town we will be cheering on Graham Alexander’s team to victory and hoping they can challenge for promotion. United had a fantastic finish to last season and only missed out on the play-offs by the narrowest of margins. We’re hoping they can go one better this year and win promotion to the Championship.”
The agreement between British Steel and Scunthorpe United will also see the two organisations work together on a series of community projects, with a particular focus on schools, education and training.
Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann said: “British Steel and Scunthorpe United are both at the heart of the community and we are proud to be working together.
“Everyone in the town was delighted when British Steel was launched on June 1 as we all know how vital the business is to our local economy. Thousands of our supporters either work at British Steel, have done so in the past or have friends and relatives with close links to the industry so it is only right that we should support an organisation that means so much to this area.
“However, our decision to use British Steel from Scunthorpe in our new stadium is not based on sentiment alone. British Steel has a global reputation for producing the highest quality steel and you can find it in some of the most famous buildings and stadiums in the world. We want the best for our club, and that’s what British Steel provides.”
The steel for the new stadium will be made in Scunthorpe and rolled at British Steel’s Teesside Beam Mill.
Scunthorpe Site Multi-Union Chairman Paul McBean said: “Together British Steel and Scunthorpe United will make a great team. I’m sure that the many Scunthorpe United fans who work at British Steel in Scunthorpe will be delighted to know that when they cheer the Iron on in their new stadium, they will do so proud in the knowledge that they helped build it.”
Scunthorpe United’s new 12,000 seat stadium is being built as part of the Lincolnshire Lakes housing development to the west of the town.
The new Scunthorpe United home shirt is blue with a claret pin stripe. It is accompanied by claret shorts and claret and blue socks. The away kit is a green shirt, black shorts and green and black socks. There are three goalkeeping jerseys – one in green, one in purple and one in orange.
The shirts will go on pre-sale from Glanford Park, as well as online at www.sufcshop.com (or by calling 01724 747670) at 10am on Thursday 14 July, before being able to collect ahead of the new season.
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