Cheers!By Ian Tyssen, Thursday 17 June 2010With the 'Bootham Crescent 2010 World Cup Beer Festival' only one week away - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June in the York City FC Social Club - we would like say a big 'thank you' to the record number of sponsors.
In the previous two years we have been very fortunate to receive support from many businesses, organisations, supporters groups and individuals. However, this year, despite the increased cost of sponsoring a barrel, we have received an even greater response to our appeal for support.
As the event is a fundraiser for the 'York City Youth Fund', it is no surprise that several sponsors have a very close relationship with the football club.
This includes fans' favourite Michael Ingham and his glove supplier Paxsport, the club's sports therapist Tom Robinson and also last season's Youth Team players, who each paid £5 towards their sponsorship. Tom, who runs Excel Sports & Injury Clinic at Fitness First and has attended our previous Beer Festivals, says, "It's a great fundraiser and hopefully it will be a big success like last year. I'm sponsoring the event because I know it's for such a good cause and I'll definitely be there supporting it and enjoying a drink or two!".
Continuing the York City connection, Harrogate Minstermen, Pocklington Minstermen, York City FC Vice Presidents, York City Promotions Association, York City South, York City Supporters Trust and York Minstermen have all sponsored a barrel. It is fantastic to see all of these supporters' groups uniting to support such a worthy cause and we hope that their representatives will have an enjoyable time at the Beer Festival.
Many of the previous year's sponsors have returned, like A Novel Idea, Country Products, Bedingham & Co Accountants, N & E Woodhouse Plastering Contractors and Neil Eshelby Painter & Decorator, who all have close links with York Minstermen. Country Products have donated around 180 bags of snacks - Wasabi Peas, Salted Peanuts, Bombay Mix and Chilli Peanuts - in bespoke York Minstermen packaging, which will be on sale at the event.
We also welcome back several City supporters who have sponsored barrels as individuals and not through a business. They include Stan and Margaret Rogers, Chris Fearnley and Will Langstaff, who has recently sponsored a 2nd barrel, after discovering that we had one spare.
Thanks to the efforts of City fan Andrew Leathley and several other contributors, the new fanzine 'RaBTaT' - Red and Blue Through and Through - has been able to sponsor a barrel from the proceeds from the sale of the 1st issue.
The football connection continues with PlayFootball.net at Clifton Moor and the Yorkshire, Humber and North Midlands Division of The Football Supporters Federation, who recently held their AGM at Bootham Crescent.
Newcomers to the Beer Festival's list of sponsors are KBW Chambers, Stonegate Yard Bar & Brasserie, Bannatyne's Health Club & Spa, The Waggon & Horses and D.R. Garage Doors / RaccyBorough. We hope to see them return next year.
Finally, we would also like to express our gratitude to York Brewery and Rudgate Brewery for donating a firkin of Yorkshire Terrier and the award winning Ruby Mild, respectively.
All that we ask now is that hundreds of people turn up at the Beer Festival and raise thousands of pounds by drinking the 19 real ales, 4 ciders / perries and selection of imported bottled lagers. Tickets, priced at £5, are still available from the York City Club Shop - Monday to Friday, 10.30am to 2.30pm.