Parkgate FC’s home ground is to be renamed the Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium after TMG Mortgage Network donated the naming rights to the borough’s leading end-of-life care provider.
The change, which takes effect on Saturday 22 November, marks the first time in the region that a business has handed over stadium naming rights to a local charity rather than using them for commercial promotion.
The official unveiling will be held over a two-day “Rotherham Hospice Weekend” featuring Parkgate FC’s clash with Sheffield FC on the Saturday and a Rotherham United Women’s fixture the following day. The event will include fundraising activities and tributes to patients, families, volunteers and the wider community.
BRINGING FOOTBALL AND CARE TOGETHER
Scott Thorpe, chief executive of TMG Mortgage Network and Lord of the Manor of Rotherham, said: “Being part of this town has shaped who I am, both personally and in business. After being named Lord of the Manor of Rotherham earlier this year, I promised to give back in meaningful ways and this is one of them.
“Rotherham Hospice provides incredible support to families when they need it most, and Parkgate FC represents the beating heart of grassroots football. Bringing these two pillars of our community together under one banner felt powerful. It’s never been done before in this area, and I hope it inspires more businesses to back the causes that truly matter to local people.”
Albert Dudil, chairman of Parkgate FC, said the agreement “goes beyond football – it’s about people. Our club has always been about community first, and with TMG’s support and the Hospice’s name on our ground, we can raise funds, awareness and pride for Parkgate and Rotherham in a way we’ve never seen before.”
A BOOST FOR HOSPICE FUNDRAISING
Ruth Wallbank, spokesperson for Rotherham Hospice, described the donation as “an extraordinary gesture”. She said: “The Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium will help us share our message of care and compassion with new audiences, while raising essential funds to continue supporting families across the borough.”
The initiative will form the centrepiece of a wider fundraising campaign led by TMG to benefit both grassroots football and hospice services.
A FIRST FOR THE REGION
Unlike traditional corporate sponsorships, the move underlines a growing trend for businesses to direct support towards community causes rather than branding alone. For Rotherham, the partnership brings together two of its most recognised institutions – local football and the town’s hospice – under one name.
