A Solihull-based football team hits the pitch in style with brand-new training kits, proudly sponsored by McCarthy Stone.
The partnership between AFC Solihull, who play at Leafield Athletic Football Club on Rumbush Lane, and the developer behind Wheatley Place Retirement Living Plus development on Stratford Road, includes a £3.2K donation that supports and helps with the running of the club. This included pre-match attire, warm-up kits and sponsorship boards.
Founded in 2012, AFC Solihull went through a major rebuild in 2021, having brought in Stefan Raymond as Sporting Director, who quickly appointed former Solihull Moors FC defender and Birmingham City FC community coach, Joe Ballinger as first team head coach. That year, the Division 3 club went into the season with the youngest average age in the league, with most of the team playing their first season in men’s football. Despite this, the club finished in fourth spot, just outside of promotion.
In 2023, Dean Newman took over the helm, joining from local rivals Silhill FC, and recruited a number of experienced players with a view to be promoted to Division 2. The club also agreed a partnership with Leafield Athletic FC to help nurture the next generation of football talent.
A restructuring at the club saw the appointment of a new board of directors, including Tim Delaney as Club Chair, bringing with him his extensive experience of the non-league circuit having worked with Solihull Moors FC in the National League. Fast forward and the club have recently been promoted to Division 2 after topping the Division 3 league with 26 out of 32 match wins under their belt. Next season, they’ll go head-to-head with the likes of Knowle FC, Birmingham United FC, and Earlswood Town FC.
Tim Delaney, Club Chairman of AFC Solihull comments: “AFC Solihull are a non-league football club made up entirely of volunteers.
“The cost to run the club for a single season is almost £10,000. However, this only accounts for things like the FA and match officials’ fees, player insurance, and post-match hospitality. It doesn’t include the cost of equipment or kit.
“We charge a very small admission fee for our home matches to help towards the running costs; however, truthfully, it’s merely a drop in the ocean. Therefore, without the support and sponsorship of local businesses, such as McCarthy Stone, the club simply would not survive a single season and ultimately would have to cease existence.
“We’re over the moon to have the backing of a company of McCarthy Stone’s stature, as it will help earn more recognition for the club, not just locally, but nationally too. The new kit has already made a world of difference to the team’s confidence and professionalism.
“When I first joined, the team didn’t have a club training kit, so turned up to matches in their own clothes which meant they didn’t look like a ‘proper’ team. Having worked in non-league and professional football for 25 years, I’ve always said that it doesn’t matter what level you compete at, you still need to ‘look’ the part.”
David Meachem, Divisional Sales Director for McCarthy Stone, added: “Supporting local activities and initiatives in the towns and communities in which we build is incredibly important to us. We endeavour to help create a lasting, positive legacy, and we’re proud to now be able to support AFC Solihull and look forward to building our relationship with them further in the future.
“On behalf of the team at Wheatley Place, we’d like to wish them the best of luck ahead of the next season.” Bridging the gap between traditional residential care and independent living for the over 60s, Wheatley Place consists of 66 one and two-bedroom low-maintenance retirement apartments, along with exceptional facilities designed to offer a full and varied lifestyle.
These include a well-appointed lounge, a roof terrace, chef-run bistro, games room, exercise studio, wellness spa, and a large landscaped communal garden. An Estate Management Team is on-site around the clock to oversee the day-to-day running of the development and provide flexible care packages to suit individual need.
State-of-the-art security features, including a 24-hour emergency call point, intruder alarm, and door camera entry, are fitted as standard in each property for added peace-of-mind. A range of purchasing options are available at Wheatley Place to make retiring in style more accessible, such as the Shared Ownership scheme in partnership with Homes England, which allows retirees to enjoy the benefits of Retirement Living Plus without committing to the full purchase price.
For example, retirees can pay just 50% of the property value of an apartment at the development, and monthly rent payable on the remaining 50% with one-bedroom retirement homes available from £117,000, and two-bedroom homes from £149,998*. More than nine out of ten customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation.
McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this rating every year we have taken part in the survey.
*Shared ownership prices are subject to availability.
