The Bray Wanderers players will be fighting fit for their matches after they formed a new partnership with Shoreline Leisure.
The Seagulls’ players will receive membership of the Shoreline Leisure Bray on the Southern Cross Road as part of a contra sponsorship deal estimated to be worth €40,000 over a five year period to the Airtricity League Premier Division football club.
They’ll be able to work on their strength and conditioning by using the leisure centre’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include hi-tech gyms and weights rooms, sports halls and fitness classes – while the squad can also use the swimming pools for recovery sessions after matches.
The partnership has been hailed as a perfect match between Wicklow’s premier health and fitness group and Wicklow’s premier football team.
Kevin Kelley, manager Shore Line showing Robert Maloney the ropes
It is the latest move by Wanderers to enlist the support of local business since the club embarked on radical new campaign to secure their future by forming a community-owned company – Bray Wanderers Community Football Club (BWCFC) – to help raise funds to run the football club and finance projects to develop amenities for the local community at the Carlisle Grounds.
The 300 Club launched by BWCFC at the beginning of May has already seen a significant take up of the memberships.
Shoreline Leisure have fitness centres in Bray and Greystones – boasting swimming pools, state-of-the-art gyms and weights rooms, sports halls and fitness classes. The company also has the Shoreline Sports Park in Charlesland, which has a 400m all-weather athletics track, astro pitches, tennis and basketball courts, rock climbing and other facilities.
Shoreline Leisure Bray manager Kevin Kelly said, “This is a great partnership for Shoreline Leisure and Bray Wanderers – Wicklow’s premier health and fitness group with Wicklow’s premier football club.
“These are exciting times at Bray Wanderers and we’re thrilled to be able to play our part by getting involved and supporting the team – it’s great to think that we have a role to play in the success of the Seagulls.”
“We are looking forward to having the likes of Jake Kelly and Robert Maloney rubbing shoulders with our other Shoreline members, who will be able to witness the kind of dedication elite athletes put into their fitness regimes. It can only have a positive impact on those wanting to lead healthier lifestyles.”
Robert Maloney, Bray Wanderers, testing some of the equipment available to the team
Bray Wanderers President Philip Hannigan said, “This partnership with Shoreline Leisure is precisely the sort of support that will help Bray Wanderers deliver for our community both on and off the pitch.
“Since launching the new Bray Wanderers Community Football Club initiative we’ve had a great response from the supporters, local businesses and the community in general – they realise the more we put into our local football club, the more everyone will benefit from it.”
Bray Wanderers manager Alan Mathews said that the fans should see the benefits of the new partnership on the pitch.
“Myself and the players are really excited by this deal and are very grateful for the help and support given to us by Shoreline we are delighted to have formed an alliance with them. Strength and conditioning is now an integral part of player development and has become a very important facet of the game. The state-of-the-art gym facilities at Shoreline will help players develop strength, speed and endurance and therefore allow them to make the most of their ability.”
“In addition to the top class gym facilities Shoreline provide us with we have the added benefit of being able to conduct recovery sessions in the swimming pool, which hopefully will lead to injury prevention going forward. Our Physio Ed Foley and Fitness coach Ross Hamilton are developing programmes for the players and working with them on an individual basis and from a manager’s perspective, anything that encourages the players to work hard and improve themselves is most welcome.”
