Newcastle unveil new club sponsor

Newcastle today unveiled North-East mortgage lender Northern Rock as their new club sponsor.

The company has taken over the last two years of the contract initially negotiated with telecommunications giant NTL, and hopes to enter into a new deal when the current arrangement expires in 2005.

Details of the finances involved have not been revealed, but it is Northern Rock’s biggest ever sponsorship deal.

United chairman Freddy Shepherd said: “You are all aware of the tremendous strides Newcastle United have made in recent seasons.

“We are established as one of the major players in the Premiership, recognised as one of the leading clubs in European football and we are also developing the Newcastle United name throughout the Far East and beyond.

Our interim results, announced last week, made very good reading.

“However, we must not rest on our laurels and that’s why we are thrilled to be entering into partnership with Northern Rock.

“We are immensely proud of our Geordie roots and, having enjoyed a successful partnership with Newcastle Breweries in the 1990s, it is tremendous for us the be linking up with Northern Rock, a genuine Newcastle company which brings the Geordies together under one roof and also on the field of play.”

Northern Rock Chief executive Adam Applegarth is a season ticket holder at St James’ Park.