PORTLAND Town have announced a new sponsorship deal with the online pool and snooker retailer Billiards Boutique.

The deal will mean that Billiards Boutique, who are based on Portland, are the club’s headline sponsor for the next three seasons and brings in much needed funds ahead of the new campaign as the first team make the step up to Division One of the Dorset League.

Pete Williams, the owner of Billiards Boutique, is currently the club’s first-team manager. His individual involvement in the running of the club has also been increased.

As a part of the deal, all of the clubs four Saturday sides will wear new kit with the Billiards- Boutique.com logo on and the first team also have their away kit sponsored by the pool and snooker retailer.

Williams said: “I am delighted to extend my support of Portland Town Football Club, we started by sponsoring a kit for the A team two seasons ago and increased that to one of the youth sides a year later.

“When the opportunity arose to support the club on a larger scale I very quickly took it.

“It is going to be a very interesting season for the club as they compete in Division One for the very first time and are now in a good position to progress even higher. If our support helps with that then it will be a job well done.”

Club founder Andy Barber told Echosport: “I can’t thank billiardsboutique.com and Pete Williams enough for their sponsorship.

“Without it we wouldn’t be able to continue, it’s a simple as that.

“The deal is for an initial three-year period but I’m hoping it will continue long after that.

“The club has set itself certain targets over the next few years with a new home possibly becoming a reality soon.

“Now with this sponsorship deal sewn up things are certainly on the up for the club.”

Barber has also announced that the extra revenue generated by the club’s newly formed PTFC League would enable the islanders to allow first-team players to play for free and not have to pay match-day subs.

He said: “We would like to eventually do the same for all our teams but initially we will trial it with the first team.

“Other plans in the near future would be to actually pay firstteamers an appearance bonus and win bonus.

“We would need to find extra revenue for that but we do have plans and it could be a reality sooner rather than later.”

  • Any players wanting to sign up for the island club’s first team should contact the club secretary by calling 0771531741.