By Doug Shields
GingerComms is proud to announce a partnership with Bristol Rovers Football Club.
The arrangement essentially means I will be advising the club’s board of directors on PR and communication matters during what is an exciting time on and off the pitch.
The club are flying high in the Vanarama Conference, and the on-going saga surrounding the new stadium will soon come to a conclusion, hopefully with the High Court judge ruling in Rovers’ favour.
From a GingerComms point of view we are obviously delighted to add a football club of the size and stature of Bristol Rovers to our growing list of clients.
Rovers is a club which is close to my heart, having attended my first game in 1987 when a couple of friends from Oldland Common invited me to Ashton Gate to watch the New Year’s Day derby.
With a couple of minutes left, Gary Smart smashed the ball into the top corner, and the away end went wild. I was hooked.
On the drive home I was branded ‘a lucky mascot’ and in the wake of that famous victory joined the lads from Oldland on trips up and down the country to watch the Gas.
As the years rolled by my childhood allegiance to Coventry City faded and I became a full-fledged Gashead.
I was also lucky enough to report on games for national daily and Sunday newspapers for a couple of years during Ollie’s reign.
So to be given the opportunity to get involved in helping the board communicate more effectively with supporters is something I’m excited about.
I first met the members of the board last year during the dark days following Rovers’ relegation to the Vanarama Conference.
I offered to help, and following a series of meetings during which they were incredibly receptive and willing to listen to what I had to say, we are now able to announce the partnership.