A COLCHESTER youth football team is already looking forward to next season after scoring a golden sponsorship deal.

Gold plating company Goldgenie has come to the rescue of St Edmunds Youth Football Club, based in Greenstead, after hearing the current kit was falling apart.

Richard Myers, chairman of the Greenstead club, said: “Finding sponsorship for grassroots football, any club will tell you, is tough especially in this financial climate.

“After contacting a number of local businesses without success, I tried Laban at Goldgenie and was thrilled when he said he would sponsor us.”

The deal will allow the club to buy new kits for its four teams, made up of 60 children.

Goldgenie, which customises items such as iPhones and iPads, was thrust into the limelight in 2007 when founder Laban Roomes won the support of James Caan, of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den.

Mr Roomes said: “When Richard approached me for help and told me about the state of the current kits, I was only too happy to help.

“Local clubs like this play an important role in any community and give children the opportunity to play in a safe and organised environment.”