NatWest Announce Team England Player Partnership With PCA – 03/06/2003 NatWest, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and a major sponsor of English cricket for over 20 years, have announced their official partnership with the Professional Cricketers’ Association. This annual partnership deal includes an extensive programme with the Team England Player Partnership and title sponsorship of the PCA Players’ Awards Dinner. NatWest have invested over £ 35 million into the game over the last two decades through sponsorship of the NatWest Trophy, ICC Cricket World Cup, The NatWest Series and this year’s new tournament, The NatWest Challenge. In addition, NatWest also support and invest heavily in an extensive grassroots programme to help maintain a healthy future of the game at all levels. Team England Player Partnership will be working closely with NatWest to help encourage more youngsters to experience the game and adopt it as their favoured sport. NatWest Goes Interactive England and high profile county cricket players such as Marcus Trescothick, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff will be present at the NatWest Interactive Tour venues from Summer to provide advice and encouragement to children of all ages and abilities who have a chance to test their cricket skills and enter the NatWest Speed Challenge competition. Online Exclusive The programme will also be supported online with cricket fans being given access to exclusive information and interviews on www.natwest.com/cricket with the England players and a ‘live’ online chat during The NatWest Challenge and The NatWest Series. Title Sponsor At PCA Awards The PCA Players’ Awards Dinner gives NatWest the opportunity to be associated with one of the most prestigious events in the cricket calendar. This annual event, which is being held this year on 22 September, is not only about recognising the achievements of players who have dominated the game during the season but also to raise monies for the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust, Community and Educational Projects. NatWest ‘A Tremendous Supporter’ Richard Bevan, Group Chief Executive, PCA said: ‘We are delighted, as a result of this new agreement, that NatWest will be working more closely with the PCA. NatWest have been a tremendous supporter of cricket for many years and it is only natural for both parties to have a stronger relationship.’ Sun Safety The PCA and Team England are also actively supporting the sun safety campaign that NatWest and Marie Curie Cancer Care are undertaking for the second year in succession. The England team will help raise awareness of the growing problem of skin cancer in the UK, particularly amongst young males, by undergoing health checks on their skin. High Profile Partnership Stephen Day, Head of Brand Strategy, NatWest, commented: ‘Our partnership with the PCA will provide us with a fantastic platform to help raise the profile of all our cricket sponsorship activities, both during and around The NatWest Challenge and The NatWest Series.’
