Southend's super sporting all-rounder Adam Hickey has landed his first major sponsorship deal.

The 16-year-old defends his Southend 10K title at Southchurch Park on Sunday after signing up with Canvey based Club Sports (UK) Ltd.

They will provide the Southend High School pupil, who has won national and international honours in the world of athletics and triathlon, with sporting clothing and footwear.

The company are newly-established in the area and will shortly open a shop in Canvey High Street.

But they will not deal in popular items such as replica football shirts.

Said director Steve Murphy: "Our aim is to specialise and provide the kind of things people can't buy in the high street sport chains.

"Apart from football and cricket, we'll deal in rugby and minority sports such as triathlon to allow local enthusiasts to see and buy gear they'd normally only be able to get by mail order or travelling to London."

Hickey's tie-up with the company came about as Murphy plays rugby with schoolteacher Steve Thomas for the Canvey club.

Thomas, as head of PE at Southend High has, along with Southend AC coach Ron Dawson, been a major factor in Hickey hitting the headlines in the world of athletics.