This month, the inaugural Wilton Cup – slated to become an annual event at Durham University – was attended by over 150 students, raising £1,327 for our chosen charity in the process. After years of proudly sponsoring the Durham University Football Club, this marks an exciting new chapter in our shared relationship – with both grassroots sport and charity coming together to make a meaningful contribution to the community.

As shirt sponsors for Durham University Football Club for over 10 years, we have been delighted to support by providing playing equipment, coaching staff as well as funding for tours. Throughout this tenure, the football club have enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth and success – rising from division Northern 3B to the highest echelons of BUCS (British Universities and College Sports). This year, the club finished on a high with a 3-2 victory over, bitter rivals, Loughborough University – in an exhibition charity fixture at home ground Maiden Castle.

But the Wilton Cup, despite evidencing the breadth of talent that exists across the university, was a day for enjoyment over excellence. On an unexpectedly sunny day in June, the hardened and the hungover alike ran off their exam blues in the name of ‘Papyrus’, the suicide prevention charity that have benefitted from all of DUAFC’s charitable endeavours over the course of the year.

As a company, we are proud of this long-lasting relationship and – despite our recent foray into the international sports arena – take great pride in our tangible impact on grassroots and community sport. We look forward to many more happy moments in the coming years – of Durham students coming together and competing for the Wilton Cup.