Community Connection: Business isn't always about cashing in. Integrity before profit. Always.

Jeremy and Clair, between them, have nearly 40 years’ experience in non-league football of which 18 years has been focused on The National League with Sutton United FC.

For Jeremy and Clair, it was an easy decision to first approach Tonbridge Angels Football Club (TAFC), signing a 2-year contract with Sophie Purves (Commercial Director of TAFC) on Thursday 8th April 2021.

What sealed the deal, for Jeremy and Clair, was the club’s unconditional passion around supporting the local community, being a family friendly club, focusing on equality and inclusivity by making TAFC accessible to everyone regardless of whether they are die-hard football fans or those who just want to pop along from time to time, with their family and watch the odd game of semi-professional football is a safe, friendly, and relaxed environment.

There is also enormous scope from employee engagement projects such as teambuilding and corporate awayday experiences. Hospitality in their luxury marquee for client-entertaining and networking on matchdays. Finally, businesses that wish to invest their Corporate Social Responsibility budgets against meaningful community outreach projects.

Soon, there will be a Down Syndrome football team with the club having recently partnered with the charity, ‘Ups & Downs’.

With Jeremy and Clair finding inward investment several years ago for Sutton United FC to set-up a Disability section, funding the Chelsea Football Foundation to deliver specialist and expert training to coaches and management working with special-needs athletes, TAFC are setting up a Down Syndrome football team. This, for Clair and Jeremy, reinforcing the club’s core values about community outreach and making football accessible to all. TAFC have even given a section of their ground so that Ups & Downs can build a learning centre A safe and happy space, supporting people living with Down Syndrome to have a sense of purpose, independence, pride, value, respect, and dignity – all under the umbrella of TAFC.

Finally, The Business Club. Clair and Jeremy have launched a TAFC Business Club, bringing businesses together across the region under the umbrella of TAFC. A specialist area the duo are highly experienced in and knowledgeable about. The purpose of The Business Club is so that businesses through informal peer-to-peer networking and regular touchpoint opportunities such as private mailings, interviews, blogs, vlogs and match-day hospitality, a unique culture of mutual respect and a ‘givers gain’ mindset, members will benefit from having a commercial association with TAFC will result in qualifiable return-on-investment and sustainable long-term business relationships.