Latest milestone for Devon developer-football club partnership marked

The developer behind the Abbotsham Park development and Bideford Association Football Club have marked the latest milestone of their partnership.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon made their second of three £5,000 payments to the club as part of a sponsorship deal, courtesy of the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme.

A key highlight of the agreement is the renaming of Bideford AFC’s home ground to ‘The Persimmon Homes Sports Ground’. The naming rights deal marks a new era for both Persimmon and Bideford AFC, the latter of whom won the Devon Cup earlier this year.

Bideford AFC, nicknamed "The Robins" due to their all-red strip, has a storied history and is a significant part of the local community. The club currently competes in the Southern League Division One South and the partnership with Persimmon will help enhance their facilities and presence in the footballing pyramid.

The accredited five-star developer has one to four-bed homes from £175,000 at its Abbotsham Park site off Clovelly Road, which will deliver 200 much-needed homes for local people. The scheme includes active travel routes, green spaces, play areas, and a community orchard, alongside sustainability measures that will contribute to a 10% increase in on-site biodiversity.

Persimmon donates £24,000 across Cornwall & West Devon to good causes and much-valued organisations each year as part of its Community Champions programme. Recent local recipients include Bideford’s own Shammy Rovers FC.

Jane Cartwright, Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon’s sales director, said:

“We were very proud to be adopted as Bideford AFC’s stadium sponsor last year, and we are delighted to investing further into a much-beloved local institution.

“Renaming the ground to ‘The Persimmon Homes Sports Ground’ symbolised our commitment to supporting the club and the town in a meaningful way, demonstrating how our Community Champions programme helps us deliver a positive and lasting legacy where we build.

“So, we are very happy to be marking the first anniversary of our partnership with Bideford AFC.”

Ian Wright, Chairman of Bideford AFC, added:

"We’re delighted to be marking this latest milestone in our relationship with Persimmon, who’s support has been a significant boost for the club.

“This agreement has already enabled us to invest more in the club’s facilities and our brilliant players, staff, and fans. We look forward to continuing to building on this strong foundation over these three years as we enhance our presence in the town.”