Welsh cricket will be driven forwards thanks to a lucrative new partnership deal for Glamorgan CCC and Cricket Wales with leading sports car manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda.
The partnership was formally revealed today at a handover event for Aston Martin’s new facility at MOD St Athan, in attendance with senior UK and Welsh Ministers. The partnership, which covers the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons, includes support for the GCCC first team as well as the age-grade teams from Cricket Wales.
The full Glamorgan Cricket squad was in attendance at the event sporting their 2017 kit, which will carry the iconic Aston Martin wings on the collar for all three formats of the game. Representatives from all Cricket Wales age-grade teams were also in attendance, wearing their new kit, with ‘Aston Martin – supporting Welsh cricket’ emblazoned on the front.
According to Hugh Morris, Chief Executive of GCCC, Aston Martin’s partnership with Glamorgan Cricket and Cricket Wales underlines the importance of sport in Wales from grassroots through to elite level.
“We are delighted to be working with such an iconic British company as Aston Martin and very proud that they have chosen to support Glamorgan Cricket and the development of youth cricket in Wales.
“Glamorgan are the only county that represents a whole country and all our partners, including Aston Martin, recognise the unique opportunities that this offers. I’d like to thank the team at Aston Martin for their support and we look forward to working with them over the next three years.”
Aston Martin has started work to transform the super hangar facility at MOD St Athan into a production facility capable of manufacturing luxury vehicles. Directly creating 750 new jobs at the plant, the first vehicle from St Athan, the DBX sports utility vehicle, will start production in 2019.
“Aston Martin has made a bold move in committing to manufacturing in Wales, and our decision has been well supported and warmly welcomed by everyone in Wales,” commented Aston Martin Chief Executive, Andy Palmer.
“It is our strong intention to contribute to the future success of Cardiff and Wales as a whole, not just as an employer, but also by playing our part in the wider community. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to that, and I am very much looking forward to seeing Glamorgan and some of the youth teams in action this summer.”