Pilkington Activ™ becomes St Helens' main sponsor for 2008 season

Current World Club champions and Carnegie Challenge Cup holders, St Helens, have announced that Pilkington Activ™ will become the club's main sponsor for 2008. Following a successful partnership since the original deal was signed in July 2007, the Pilkington Activ™ legend will appear on the club's playing kit for whole of next season. Last season the partnership enjoyed TV, press and stadium exposure to an estimated six million UK consumers for the historic Carnegie Challenge Cup final, the first ever to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, in addition to those who watched the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final, followed by the engage Super League play-offs, and the Grand Final at Old Trafford. Pilkington Activ™ is the world's first self-cleaning glass which uses a special coating to continuously clean itself. Full season shirt sponsorship will allow Pilkington Activ™ to enjoy considerably more benefits, as sales of replica shirts and other general publicity gathers pace. A number of promotional opportunities will be generated for trade and consumers in addition to considerable local interest for Pilkington, which has been neighbours with Saints for almost one hundred and fifty years. Tony Colquitt, Saints chief executive, expressed his pleasure at the signing of the new deal: "We are naturally delighted to continue and build what is becoming an established partnership with what is one of our most loyal supporters. Pilkington Activ™ is a world recognised brand and has aligned with the best club in world rugby. We are delighted to have them in a partnership which can only be beneficial for both parties." Anne Quayle, marketing services manager at Pilkington Activ™, added: "Pilkington Activ™ has been a success by any standards and in order to maintain that year on year we need to develop new ideas and exposure for the product. "Our involvement with Saints this year has allowed us to evaluate in real terms what full sponsorship may bring and it has been a huge success. We are delighted that we now have the benefits of a full season ahead of us, again enjoying the close ties that have existed between Pilkington and Saints since the club was formed. "Not only will it be good for business but it should be a lot of fun for our customers and colleagues too."   E&OE