The Suffolk and Ipswich Football League has agreed a deal with Gateway 14 to be its sponsor for the next three years. 

Gateway 14 is a private limited company owned by Mid Suffolk District Council. It was set up in 2017 to acquire and develop 156 acres to the east of Stowmarket.   

The site is part of Freeport East and the first occupier was The Range in a building of 1.17m sq ft, providing 1,650 jobs. Currently under construction is a building of 44,000 sq ft for Bauder UK and it is hoped work will start soon on the construction of a Skills and Innovation Centre of 35,000 sq ft to be owned by Mid Suffolk District Council. 

(Image: Gateway 14) Sir Chris Haworth, Chair of Gateway 14, said: “The board of Gateway 14 is very keen to see the proceeds from the development make a real difference to the region.   

“A key focus is the link between education and industry, which will be enabled by the new Skills and Innovation Centre, the construction of which will start shortly.   

“Health and wellbeing is also a vitally important element to this, and therefore I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity, for the next three years, to support the Suffolk & Ipswich Football League, which is such an important driver of health and wellbeing across the region.” 

The SIL, which is now in its 128th year, is a feeder league for the National League System and has 78 teams from 46 clubs playing across its six divisions.  

Brantham Athletic, whose Development side joined the league this season, are the only current member from the 17 clubs that played in the inaugural season in 1896. 

Alan Sparkes, the league’s fixture secretary, said: “As a league we are very pleased to become involved with such a prestigious enterprise and we will now move forwards to see if we can improve our practices with a view to retain and help our clubs.  

“In the new year we will be canvassing all our clubs to listen to their ideas for the future of the SIL. In the last few years football has suffered like many social activities, and it is our intention to move forwards with the help of our sponsors and our clubs.”