Image:Steel Benders UK’s Operations Director Phil Anderson and Managing Director Tania Cooper with Thornaby FC’s Chief Operating Officer Ryan McKnight at the new Steel Benders site in Brenda Road, Hartlepool. Pictures: Chris Booth C/O Rephrase.
The strong partnership between Thornaby FC and Steel Benders UK has been marked by a visit to Hartlepool to celebrate a major milestone for the club’s official shirt sponsors.
The Teesdale Park non-league football club honoured their sponsor by presenting a framed team shirt on the Brenda Road site, marking the official start of construction on Steel Benders’ new six-acre home.
The gesture celebrates the commencement of the project, which will see the steel profiling, forming and bending specialists relocate its entire operations to a new 40,000 sq ft factory in Hartlepool, creating new jobs too.
Thornaby FC expanded its relationship with Steel Benders this season by becoming the official sponsor for the men’s and women’s home and away kits.
And the club was keen to personally mark the start of construction by underlining its commitment to one of their main sponsors.
Tania Cooper, Steel Benders’ managing director, said: “Linking so well with a local club like Thornaby FC, who are doing great things for their community, feels incredibly important to us as a company focused on investing in the North-East,”
The partnership also received praise from the club side.
Ryan McKnight, Thornaby FC’s chief operations officer, said: “Having a company of Steel Benders UK’s reputation and local standing choose to partner with us as our main kit sponsor is a massive vote of confidence in the direction we’re heading.
“Their commitment to supporting the local community and their belief in our club’s unified vision is exactly the kind of strong partnership we want.
“We are incredibly proud to have their name front and centre on both our home and away shirts.”
Following planning approval, groundwork for the new facility began in August. In a demonstration of its services, Steel Benders UK is providing all the structural steel for the build.
Adding another local link, the contract for the crucial foundations phase has been awarded to Brims Construction, a firm with a regional office in Thornaby.
Tania added: “With planning in place, we have Brims Construction on site and they are stripping it back and are in the process of building pits, laying the foundations for our machines.
“Work started in August and now there are clear signs of progress on the new 40,000 sq ft factory, which will see the whole company head to Brenda Road, making Hartlepool our home.”
The company anticipates being fully operational in Hartlepool by June 2026, boosting their capacity in high-profile sectors like renewable energy and construction.
