Football Shirt Culture.com

Ipswich Town Football Club is proud to announce that the Marcus Evans Group will be the Club's official sponsor for the next five years. The sponsorship contract is the longest in the Club's history and will see the Marcus Evans name emblazoned on the Ipswich Town shirt until the summer of 2013.

The multi-million pound deal further strengthens Marcus Evans's long-term commitment to Ipswich Town and provides additional revenue for the Club on top of initial investment made by the British entrepreneur.

"The Marcus Evans Group is a highly successful international business to business information company with interests including conferences, summits, sports hospitality and business training.

It operates in 65 countries worldwide and is consistently increasing its global reach year on year," says Marcus Evans Group spokesperson, Martin Pitcher.

"Ipswich Town's ambition is to establish itself back in the top flight of English football and achieve long term success in the Premier League.

"The world wide media coverage that comes with playing in the Premier League and which football attracts in general, provides an ideal platform to further develop awareness of the Marcus Evans brand to an international audience.

"So through the partnership we aim to help return Ipswich Town Football Club to the Premier League and maintain the Club's status at that level, as well as reinforcing the position of the Group as a trusted global brand." The Marcus Evans Group was among a number of leading companies in discussion with the Club over the sponsorship. "There was serious interest from other high profile companies," said Ipswich Town Sales and Marketing Director, Andrew Goulborn, "but the long term commitment and financial support offered by the Marcus Evans Group proved decisive."

Town Chief Executive, Derek Bowden, added: "The sponsorship deal is another illustration of Marcus Evans's long term commitment to Ipswich Town Football Club. He is determined - as we all are - to see this football club return to the Premier League and stay there and this sponsorship will help us achieve our goal."