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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Invigorated by their recent inspiring sponsorship tie up with car dealership, Lifestyle Europe, Sussex Speedway team Eastbourne Eagles preparations for the forthcoming Elite League campaign continue to gather pace as the days and hours tick away with increasing frequency ahead of their 2010 Grand Challenge curtain raiser against the Peterborough Panthers on Saturday March 20th.
With much hard work and lengthy negotiation having been undertaken between the Eastbourne promotion and the Lifestyle Europe management team in securing the sponsorship package that both parties are confident will safeguard the Eagles long term future, in recognition of the significant role he played in the deliberations, co-promoting triumvirate of Bob Dugard, Mike Bellerby and Trevor Geer are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Macdonald as the Club’s new Commercial Manager. Chris feels that the securing of the Lifestyle Europe sponsorship heralds the dawn of a new era at Arlington. Also, he is looking forward to working with the new Supporters Club and will make myself available to speak to fans at every home meeting (to talk about anything that enhances the Eagles profile).
Macdonald, who previously served the Sussex side in a similar role during the tenure of Terry Russell and Jon Cook proved to be a chief ‘mover and shaker’ in wrapping up the deal with Lifestyle Europe that has injected fresh impetus into Eastbourne’s upcoming quest for silverware, and having demonstrated his considerable worth, the Eagles hierarchy had little hesitation in welcoming him back to the fold.
Macdonald’s duties will include the raising of the Lifestyle Eagles profile both locally and throughout the region, the seeking out of advertising opportunities for the Sussex club and hopefully the securing of further sponsorship backing along the lines that all at Arlington are still celebrating with Lifestyle Europe.
In addition, he will also head up the marketing for Eagles hospitality suite in the main grandstand. A range of packages will be available for Corporate bodies or firms entertaining Clients and all situations can be catered for. The club remain hopeful that the facility will be booked for every match throughout the coming campaign so potential patrons are advised to book early. Further details can be obtained by contacting Chris Macdonald on chrismac9x@tiscali.co.uk.
Commenting on the appointment of Eastbourne’s new Commercial Manager, co-promoter Mike Bellerby stated “We are delighted with Chris’s efforts on our behalf so far. He worked tirelessly, as did we all, and played an integral role in our securing the Lifestyle Europe sponsorship, and we have every confidence that this is the start of big things to come. We look forward to working closely with Chris over the coming weeks and months and feel sure that we stand at the threshold of what I hope will be a long, exciting and wholly beneficial association” he concluded.
PROMOTIONAL EVENTS PLANNED FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Indeed the club will not be wasting any time in ‘getting the word out there’ with promotional road shows planned on both Saturday and Sunday (27th and 28th February) this coming weekend. The location for each event will be ASDA on Brighton marina, commencing at 11.00 a.m. and continuing until 3.00 p.m. On each occasion, an Eagles assembly, that will include skipper Cameron Woodward, complete with bike for the ideal photo opportunity, the Eastbourne management team and a group of die hard supporters will be endeavouring to spread the word to fans old and new, past and present – together with those as yet uninitiated in the sport of speedway - that big things are expected down Arlington way and that the Sussex venue is really the place to be throughout 2010.
For some time the Eagles governing body have remained aware that much of their fan base travels from outside the area on a weekly basis to support their favourites and although this factor is one of constant satisfaction and one they hope will long continue, the clubs promotion feel that the time is nigh to re-educate those a little closer to home, lapsed supporters and the like, what the sport has to offer and just what they might be missing out on.
All topics with an Eastbourne bias will be touched upon and lively debate is encouraged as the Sussex clubs ambassadors strive to get their message across. Indeed all involved will continue to spread the Eagles gospel throughout the course of the season with a number of similar events planned throughout the coming months, supporters are advised to keep checking for details on the clubs official website, www.elite-eagles.com
Of course the clubs management are hopeful that their existing, and much valued supporters will play their part ahead of their opening Challenge fixture against the Peterborough Panthers and into the season itself. Downloadable flyers detailing Eastbourne’s forthcoming fixtures are now available on the official website and the Eagles promotion are keen that fans should print them off and hand them to friends, family, work colleagues, indeed anybody who they feel might have an interest and who can be drawn through the turnstiles in 2010 as the Lifestyle Eagles prepare to go live in 2010.
Eastbourne will also be embracing the latest technology as they endeavour to swell and broaden their fan base, long time Eagles scribe Paul Watson has recently set up a twitter account and is soon to launch a Facebook page in order to keep supporters fully in tune with the up to the minute happenings within the Sussex club.
The club also intend working more closely with local Radio Stations and the regional tourist boards as they endeavour to put out their message to the masses and get as many people involved in what they hope will be an emphatic return to the good days at Arlington for the Eagles in association with Lifestyle Europe.
NEW EASTBOURNE SUPPORTERS CLUB SET TO BE LAUNCHED
Of course, with fans, both old and new to cater for, the club are anxious to find ways to heighten the Arlington experience. One of these measures is the launching of the New Eastbourne Speedway Supporters Club. An initial meeting has already taken place, attended by club officials together with supporters who have expressed their willingness to serve on the new committee and a further gathering is planned shortly. Fund raising events are certain to be at the top of the agenda as the supporters club members work with the Eastbourne hierarchy to keep their club at the forefront of Elite League activity and it is also intended that they should run coaches to a number of away meetings throughout the 2010 season. Already marked down is a supporters’ club trip to the Lakeside Hammers over the Easter weekend. Further details will appear shortly on the clubs official website, www.elite-eagles.com, together with the relevant application form and details on how to join the new supporters club.
ARLINGTON STAFF MEETING SET FOR NEXT WEEKEND
With the new Speedway season merely a matter of weeks away, the Eagles management request the attendance of all club officials, stewards and track staff at a meeting scheduled for the Arlington stadium club house at 11.00 a.m. next Sunday morning (28th February).
The promotion look forward to renewing acquaintance with their trusted, valued and hard working race day staff and the format for the year ahead will be outlined and all expectations discussed.
ANNOUNCEMENT ON EASTBOURNE’S NEW NUMBER SEVEN IS IMMINENT
Bearing in mind that the clock is ticking towards the Eagles coming to tapes for their opening Challenge match against the Peterborough Panthers, the time for the clubs management to put an end to the conjecture surrounding the identity of their number seven draws ever closer, an announcement to the effect being expected imminently.
It has remained the sports worst kept secret that Eastbourne fully intended to engage the services of Russian World Cup star Denis Gizatullin as the final piece of the jigsaw, subject to the arrival of the required language test certificate. However, with time in short supply and given the continued absence of the required documentation, the clubs bosses have been forced to go with Plan B as they endeavour to put an end to all such speculation and declare their completed line up.
Although Gizatullin’s name is sure to remain etched on the Eastbourne wish list, suggestion from within the club is that the new Eagles recruit is more likely to be of Polish descent rather than Russian. An announcement is finally expected within the next few days.
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