DORSET County Football Association have announced a three-year partnership agreement with Specsavers.

The link-up will see Specsavers supporting grassroots football in Dorset by becoming the headline sponsor of the County Ground in Hamworthy, which from July 1 became the Specsavers County Ground and for the Dorset Youth Cup which will be known as the Specsavers Dorset Youth Cup.

The cup comprises of seven different age groups from under-10s to under-16s with teams represented from clubs across the county and concludes with the finals which will be held at the Specsavers County Ground.

The deal will be celebrated by an official launch game at the county headquarters on Wednesday, July 25 (7.30pm).

The FA will welcome Wimborne Town and Poole Town who will play for the Mark Frowde Trophy as part of their pre-season schedule.

Sue Hough, MBE Chief Executive of the Dorset County Football Association, said: “The Board of Directors of the Dorset County Football Association Limited are delighted that we have formed a three-year partnership with Specsavers.

“Our association see this as a great opportunity for our companies to work together to foster and develop football for all in Dorset.”

Andreas Booth, regional chairman for Specsavers in Dorset, said: “Together, Specsavers and the Dorset FA share a common goal – to enhance everyone’s health and wellbeing, regardless of one’s age, gender and physical capability.

“Our financial investment will help the Dorset FA sustain and build the momentum achieved to date in making football accessible to everyone.

“For us, to back an initiative that celebrates the love of this great game – in Dorset cities, towns and villages where we have a Specsavers store – is an honour.”

Hough added: “The Dorset County Football Association Limited would like to extend our utmost thanks to the Specsavers stores list that have committed their support to grassroots football in Dorset: Blandford, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Weymouth and Winton.

“The Specsavers County Ground has a state of the art 3G pitch used all-year-round by a wide range of local grassroots clubs and teams, to academy’s nurturing our stars of the future.

“Some schools host cup games here and then community groups, such as Headway United who play weekly, and there is also football coaching and matches for young people aged 16 and above with physical, mental health or learning difficulties.

“The Dorset deaf team who train weekly as well as the county teams who come from a myriad of clubs to represent Dorset and the next fixture for our Dorset Ladies is at the Spec- savers County Ground against Wiltshire on Sunday, July 29.”