Knowle Team Up With Draintech Again for 24/25!
Article courtesy of Solihull Observer
KNOWLE have teamed up with local company Draintech once again for the 2024/25 season as the Robins bid to achieve promotion to Step Six. New Knowle chairman Darryl Saunders took on the role in February earlier this year as the Robins finished third in the Midland Football League Division Two table last season – just missing out on promotion.
However, with Draintech’s backing as ground and shirt sponsors, Saunders is dreaming of promotion next season and hopes to emulate the journey taken by neighbours Solihull Moors which he believes highlights the impact of local sponsorship.
Saunders said: “With the local community behind us, there’s no reason Knowle can’t rise up through the leagues quite quickly. If we invest the money properly and get enough sponsors, you can rise up these leagues relatively fast, over the next 10 years we want to push as hard as we can. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who helped start Solihull Moors on their journey, they’ve seen it already happen, it’s not just a wild dream, it’s a very clear template that’s worked. There’s no reason we can’t have that same vision, and Draintech have experience of that journey.”
Draintech are specialist drainage contractors providing essential drain repairs and also believe Knowle could follow the path set out by Moors in the future.
Draintech’s marketing communications manager, Dan Lowe said: “One of the key players for Solihull Moors was the Hardyman Group, Draintech are part of that group, we’ve been part of that journey since the very beginning. We’ve seen that come through and we’re excited to do that with Knowle, there’s a huge opportunity to do it. We’ve always done fantastic stuff with Knowle and we share the same vision. It’s not just the money side, it’s about getting involved and being proud of the partnership.”
The Robins hope to make the Draintech Community Ground a fortress next season. And Saunders wants to involve the surrounding community as much as possible on Knowle’s journey.
Saunders added: “We want to make sure the word is out in Knowle, I feel like everyone knows about the club but at the same nobody does. In the area that we’re in, there’s a space to be that second team of the area and that’s what we want to be for the local community and businesses. We get good crowds already, if we can make more noise we’ll have better crowds and we want to communicate a lot more with everybody locally. We’re getting the changing rooms done and we’ve done the pitch up and that’s all thanks to local support from companies like Draintech.”
Lowe added: “Draintech have been involved with Knowle directly since 2020, it’s about connecting with our local community and giving back to our local community. We understand the value of working with local companies, as part of our responsibility to the community we want to invest in good projects such as Knowle. We’ve bought into the vision 100 per cent and respect what Knowle are trying to achieve and we want to be part of that journey. We see this as a very long-term project, we’ve been Knowle’s ground sponsor for four years now and we see the value in what Knowle are trying to do.”
And Saunders insists the club needs the support of the local community to take the next step on their journey.
He hopes the partnership between the club and Draintech will inspire other local companies to come on board with the club.
Saunders said: “At this level, unless I won the lottery, we need the support of local businesses, that’s how Step Seven football works. We need people to believe in the side and the community, with the years of support, we’ve started work on the ground thanks to Draintech’s sponsorship. We have a lot of sponsors and a lot of teams but Draintech have been there when Knowle have had it tough and the good times. When others see what we’re doing together, there’s still a lot of space for other companies to get involved. We’ve got the infrastructure and support to push on and look at competing at a division higher, we’ve got the vision, the plan is there. Local companies are the only reason we get to do that.”
