STUDENTS from Darlington College joined their principal at the Northern Echo Arena to celebrate a new community partnership at the town's football club.

The partnership, which includes advertising and sponsorship opportunities for the 2010-11 season at the Arena, means the college is entered into a free draw to become Darlington's new shirt sponsor next season.

The Quakers are offering companies of all sizes the chance to be the club's official shirt sponsor in 2010-11 as part of the unique Business Backing Darlington Club.

Darlington College have joined Joseph Parr Ltd as the second organisation to join the group as part of their community partnership with the club.

The college's principal, Tim Grant, said: "Partnerships like this are important for Darlington College. It will enable us to utilise a number of very valuable advertising opportunities through the club next season as part of our targeted community marketing strategy, and means we're reaching a young, specific audience that we might not otherwise.

"It's also very important for us to support and work hand-in-hand with the football club, which is very much at the heart of the town's community.

"This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership between the college and the club which will bring benefits to both parties so from that point of view it's great news all-round."

Darlington's general manager Phil Preston said: "To get Darlington College on board is a major coup for the club so we're over the moon with the partnership.

"The college, like the football club, is one of the town's high-profile organisations and it's fantastic that we can come together like this and help one another.

"This partnership follows the recent Joseph Parr deal so hopefully the Business Backing Darlington Club is now starting to take off. We have a number of irons in the fire and we'd hope to have some more news soon."

As well as the chance of becoming shirt sponsors, the full list of benefits for members includes:

● A perimeter advertising board at the Northern Echo Arena for the 2010-11 season.

● A full Match Sponsorship package, including a full-page matchday programme advert, 2010-11.

● A company logo listed in every matchday programme as part of the Business Backing Darlington Club.

● A table of 10 to a Sportsman's Dinner in March, when guest speaker Craig Hignett will make the make the draw.

● A 20% discount on all other conference and banqueting bookings made throughout the 2010-11 season.

Interested companies or individual business people can call the club's general manager Phil Preston on 01325 387000, or email phil.preston@darlington-fc.net