Reflecting on a season of sponsorship with Junior Manchester Giants Basketball (2023-24)

The season has seen all its three National League premier teams qualify for the last 16 in the country – with the U14s making the last eight, only losing narrowing to the top team in the country, and the U16s making it to the final four where they valiantly lost in the semi-final to the eventual winners. 

Not bad for 120 young people from across the Northwest, united by a passion for basketball and a dream to achieve something extraordinary.

GL events UK signed up to become Club Sponsor back in the autumn of 2023. Director of Marketing and CSR, Rachel Baker, explains why:

“GL loves its sport – both internationally and here in the UK. Sporting events epitomise the passion felt not only by the players and participants, but also by the spectators and everyone involved. Our motto is “Bringing people together” and nowhere is this truer than in sport.  As you can imagine, we get lots of requests for support from sports clubs, from community and grassroots level up to professional and national teams.

What stood out about the Junior Manchester Giants was the aspirations of the club and the kids to achieve something really special, and the fact that through our sponsorship we could genuinely help to facilitate this. As a Club, they have really been able to punch above their weight, but because they have been reliant on player subscriptions to fund kit, camps, tours and the like, the financial cost of this risks being restrictive for some.

What inspires us about the Junior Giants is the positivity and focus which it provides for its members, allowing them to compete on a level playing field, whatever their background.  It is a privilege for GL events to be able to offer our support as Club Sponsor and help to reinforce the genuine inclusivity which the academy promotes. Inclusion (and bringing people together) is a key theme of all our CSR activity and to quote the Club Chair, Andy Eadie:

“It should be an honour to be selected and wear the Giants vest for those who have earned the right through their talent and hard work. We want to give everyone the opportunity to be a Giant.”

The club’s success this season runs much deeper than their National League Premier Teams.  Three of the Club’s other teams ended their season top of their respective leagues, with two of those three being unbeaten across the season as a while. The U12s also won their play offs and ended as Northwest Champions.  At the other end of the spectrum, several of the club’s older players have this season been selected for their national teams, some multiple times, with alumni moving on to play professionally in Europe, and to take up scholarships in North America where they have not only got to play basketball at a top level, but gain an invaluable education in life experience that they may never have had without the game the love, and without the Club which has given them their starting opportunity.

But without the role of commercial sponsors, things could look very different for the club and its players, a situation that Club Chair, Andy Eadie is all too aware of:

“Our philosophy is talent first. The support of our sponsors has enabled us to cover our running costs without putting additional financial strain on our players and families, by increasing monthly subscriptions.  This has meant we could maintain a full roster of selected players. The support has enabled our teams to become the best possible version of themselves, irrespective of background, and for the club to survive and strive to maintain our basketball philosophy for the young people in Greater Manchester. We are becoming a club built on a strong culture of excellence, care and development, that is fast seeing young men become outstanding basketball players, as well as young men with the potential to change their worlds.”

If this season is anything to go by, the Junior Giants look likely to continue to go from strength to strength and sponsorship will continue to play a vital role in keeping the wheels turning for this inspirational club.

The Junior Giants offer a growing programme of opportunities for young people within Manchester and the surrounding areas, with Premier teams in U14, U16 and U18 competitions alongside six conference teams from U12 through to U18.  With some players already training alongside the men’s team and others being invited to training camps for their national squads, the programme offers genuine and exciting opportunities for its Junior Giants.

Could your business offer sponsorship to Junior Manchester Giants Basketball?

To discuss available opportunities, please contact Simon Wake at Giants.u12@outlook.com or by telephone on 07387 264379.