Back where we belong
By Paul Baker

Thursday 7th July 2005

PARK Engineering co-owner Mick Archer took a swipe at former Terras chairman Ian Ridley on the day his company returned to the Wessex Stadium as the main sponsors.

The Granby Industrial Estate based firm yesterday signed a two-year deal, worth £20,000 to the club.

Archer, who with partner Dave Higson has sponsored Weymouth for nine of the past ten seasons and is an ex-director and major shareholder, quit the Terras following Ridley's appointment in May 2003.

He said: "For me, becoming main sponsor again is personal. As a company we paid £30,000 to
sponsor the club for one season two years ago when Ridley became chairman and were honestly left feeling that all the club wanted was our money and nothing else.

"We were very hurt and angry at the way we were treated, especially after all the support and help we have given the club over the past ten years.

"We weren't happy about that or the way the club was being run under Ridley and that's why myself and my partner Dave Higson stood down as directors.

"But things appear very different under new chairman Martyn Harrison and his staff and we had no hesitation in returning as main sponsor when the chance arose.

"To those who treated us badly last time, I say this to them: `Park Engineering are back where they belong - on the shirts of the Terras."

Archer, who now lives in France and returns to the UK only occasionally, admitted he was concerned that the Terras are now solely owned by Harrison through his company Hollybush Hotels, and hopes that situation will change in the future.

"It does worry me that Martyn owns the club lock, stock and barrel," Archer explained. "Don't get me wrong, it's not a criticism of Martyn. The poor financial state of the club this time last year meant there was no other
way to go.

"Martyn was the only one prepared to put his hand in his pocket and it's a good job he did. He's a guy I like, trust and feel is great asset for both the town and the football club but I will be happier once the club is back in the hands of more shareholders and, as I'm sure he will to."

Archer added: "Martyn's other great strength is that he's a very fair man as well. There has been a lot of criticism lately about the club hiking their sponsorship prices but our deal proves that theory totally wrong. To ge main sponsorship for two for £20,000 is great busines: just shows that deals can be with local firms.

"That figure is not a lot more than we paid when we first sponsored the Terras ten years ago.

I'd call that very fair indeed. Meanwhile Higson predicated a 'great' season ahead for Weymouth but denied he was about to rejoin the Terras board of directors.

"The chairman has got good people in place such as manager Garry Hill and chief executive Gary Calder," he said, this could be the year that things happen.

"Park Engineering want to be there at the end of the season when all the plaudits are ' handed out and we are really pleased to have our name back the shirts for the next two years

"We were not happy with the direction the club was being taken under Ian Ridley and that is why we left the
board of directors when we did. We have supported Martyn since the day he took over and now feel comfortable that the Terras are again moving in the right direction.

"Despite that, Mick and I have no desire to return as directors. Again I am concerned that the club is under the ownership of one person but it has definitely been forced into that situation. What the future holds, I don't know but for now we are just happy that Park Engineering has been restored to its rightful place on front of the Terras shirts."

Chief executive Calder said the club was delighted to welcome Park Engineering back to the Wessex Stadium and today thanked Archer and Higson for their support.

He added: "We have had a couple of better offers for the main sponsorship, but baring in mind the history Park Engineering have with the club, we felt it right that they be given the opportunity.

`As soon as we knew they were interested in supporting us again, it was something that we were determined to see through. Weymouth Football Club is going forward and we wanted to be in partnership with a company with the right sort of stand-
ing and charisma.

"Park Engineering fit that bill perfectly and we're delighted and proud to welcome them back."

• Terras are giving a trial to former Rushden and Hornchurch star Shaun Carey.

The midfielder missed most of last season with a knee injury but will travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of Ireland, which starts on Sunday.