The Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society held  a recent meeting at Haverfordwest Cricket Club and a welcome visitor was Will James; public affairs assistant at Valero Energy Ltd.
 
Will was there to present a cheque to the society to purchase new black shorts and shirts for all the match officials in the county, all subtly carrying the Valero logo on their left sleeve.
 
“Until recently there was no sponsorship allowed on referees’ kit,” explained the society’s hon secretary Dave Badger, “but now it has been sanctioned and we are naturally delighted to be associated with such a prestigious employer in Pembrokeshire.”
 
In response, Will James told us,
“Valero are delighted to be already associated with a number of clubs and organisations in sport as part of our community support – and especially so in this case because football referees put in a tremendous amount of time and energy in ensuring that the sport is available for huge number of participants, especially with regard to young people.
 
“One only has to attend one of their meetings to see the genuine camaraderie that exists amongst the referees – and it is a pleasure to be here tonight to present their new strips.”
 
Receiving the kit on behalf of the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society was long-time president Danny Thomas:
“We are thrilled with this sponsorship from such a top company as Valero, and all our members will really appreciate such generosity.”
 
It was a view echoed by Sean O’Connor, the society’s chairman as he added,
“We were delighted to welcome Mr James here tonight: the kit is first class and long may we continue to be associated with such first-class sponsorship.”