Dickinson Dees sponsorship boosts Academy

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Leading Yorkshire law firm Dickinson Dees have become the first commercial sponsors of The Yorkshire Cricket Academy. The five-figure deal will give Dickinson Dees a direct association with arguably the most successful cricket academy of all time.

(PHOTO: Ian Dews and Academy graduate Azeem Rafiq welcome Claire Brook and Dean Larder of Dickinson Dees to Headingley)

Ian Dews, Yorkshire CCC's director of cricket development, said: "The Yorkshire Cricket Academy was started by Brian Close and Bob Appleyard back in the 1980s and has gone on to nurture some of the game's most talented exponents, including Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough and Johnny Bairstow.

"Of the 5,000 cricket clubs currently active in the UK, almost a thousand are situated in Yorkshire. As impressive as this may seem, the statistic brings with it challenges and opportunities in equal number, as any talent dwelling therein first needs to be spotted, and then fed into the academy.

"This is where sponsorships such as that from Dickinson Dees really come into their own. We are thrilled that Dickinson Dees has agreed to become the Official Sponsor of the Yorkshire Cricket Academy," he added.

John Marshall, the senior partner of Dickinson Dees, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring The Yorkshire Cricket Academy. The Academy has produced some brilliant home-grown players for Yorkshire, and is the envy of other cricketing counties across the country.

"Our association with this extremely high-profile organisation illustrates a firm and lasting commitment to sport in Yorkshire by Dickinson Dees. Our move to Leeds places us at the heart of the legal and commercial community of the city, but we are determined to be part of the wider social and cultural fabric of the city, too," said Mr Marshall.