Crabb's sponsor follows him to Town

RYMAN South club Eastbourne Town got more than a player when they signed Matt Crabb from Conference South neighbours Eastbourne Borough: they gained a sponsor as well.

Ross Greenwood, from ABC Drainage, has maintained his long-standing sponsorship of Crabb as he returns to the Town ranks after a fantastic career with Borough.

Greenwood (pictured with Crabb and, on the right, manager Danny Bloor) remains a sponsor of the town's highest-ranked club as well but by maintaining his backing for Crabb at The Saffrons he has shown himself to be a true football supporter and not one with a hard line allegiance to either the blue or red or white sides of Eastbourne.

This very unusual support has earned many accolades for both sponsor and player alike.

Greenwood said, " I am, and have been, proud to support and sponsor Matty over recent seasons. He is a credit to his family, his club and his team mates and is a fine role model for the young of today. He is loyal, honest and gives his all in everything he does. I'd miss it if I didn't sponsor him! I will miss him at Borough too but will be pleased to watch him at the Saffrons. Danny Bloor has made a super signing in Crabby, as he will love having a go at those defences and causing havoc this year!"

Town chairman, David Jenkins, was also pleased to see the sponsorship continue, saying "I have been involved with non-league football for a good while now and this is the first time I can recall such a story. It is unusual but how wonderful and how very sporting of Ross and his company. Eastbourne Town has welcomed another of the well known Crabb brothers to the Saffrons, in Matt, and we will be delighted to welcome Ross and his wife if, and when, they come to support us.

"It's nice to see local business people recognise they don't have to support one colour or another, but they can support across the board and over various sports. To have support at grass roots levels is so important as it helps to create a vibrant and robust sports sector for Eastbourne and that can only be a good thing.

"I am pleased to see Ross has this understanding and what a compliment to Matt Crabb! He should be very proud to have such an appreciative following but I can see already how he has achieved this. He has settled well with Danny and the rest of the boys here at the Saffrons and we are looking forward to the season's start."

Crabb was also delighted at the ongoing support. He commented, "Ross and his wife have become friends over the years he and his company have sponsored me. I am really touched at them wanting to continue with their support now I am with Eastbourne Town and I will look forward to scoring one or two for them, this season, if possible. When I signed I said it was important to me to represent my home town, I'm really happy here at Town and it feels like home already, Ross's support is like another home comfort!"

Eastbourne Town entertain Eastbourne Borough in a pre-season friendly at The Saffrons tomorrow (Tuesday) evening with a 7:45 kick-off.

Where next?

Youth Cup draw released The draw has been released for the first round of the Lucas Fettes Youth Cup.
Another award for Robins RYMAN Premier club Carshalton Athletic scooped the 2012 FA South East Regional Charter Standard Community Club of the Year award at the fifth annual Surrey County FA presentation evening.

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