Ian Nicholson
5:47pm, Fri 5th Jun 2020
Commercial sponsors are one of the crucial building blocks of any successful club and at Woking we have been very fortunate to have great companies backing us in recent years. In the next few weeks we will profile our shirt sponsors so, hopefully, they become more than a name and a logo!
This week our focus is the new Away shirt sponsor,
Millennium Locksmiths and we recently spoke to the company owner, Tim Francis.
Tim, before we get onto the link with Woking tell us a little about the company.
I set up Millennium Locksmiths after completing 26 years as a Musician in the Household Cavalry, where I rose through the ranks to Band Corporal Major. We are an independent family run business based in Buckinghamshire and cover the whole range of locksmith services – from 24hr Emergency cover to all the Non-Emergency services.
You have a longstanding family connection with ‘The Cards’ over 3 generations.
Yes, my dad John was best friends with Woking’s ‘Mr Football’ Phil Ledger and they were at school together; Phil was my godfather. I am Woking born and bred and went to Winston Churchill and both myself and brother Andy are lifelong Woking fans. My two daughters Sophie & Rebecca often come to matches. Andy’s son Mark Francis is also a fan and has done a lot of the BBC Surrey commentaries in recent years. So, yes, it covers different generations of our family.
How did your sponsorship of Woking begin?
We have now sponsored 3 matches over the last year or so and really the whole package is a fantastic day out. Woking really is a great family club and it’s a chance to invite friends and family – proper fans – to enjoy the unique lounge atmosphere as well as the game. I like the fact that as sponsors we can get involved at all sorts of different levels without breaking the bank.
What was your feeling when you heard that Millennium will be the main away shirt sponsor next year?
It was totally unexpected, and I must admit that we are elated. To have our name on the shirt is an honour and a privilege – we just need some football now!
Finally, what are your hopes for the future of the club on the pitch?
Very high. Dowse has been brilliant and is the life and soul of the club. I was very confident that, with the acquisition of Matt Jarvis we would have made the play offs and I will stick my neck out and say, with a manager like Dowse, we will make League 2. Obviously having better facilities and support is essential really to the club continuing to progress. The dream is on!
Thanks for your time Tim and thank you to Millennium and all our other club sponsors for the support they give.
