SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – SCREENBOND

For the last ten years and more we have been indebted to Screenbond Director Gordon Bickerstaff for his generosity and loyalty to Hitchin Town FC. Gordon’s recollection of those early days is as follows:

“Screenbond connection with the club first came about when my son Josh was signed for Hitchin in 2011. At the time I was managing Stotfold FC and continued to do so for another year whilst Josh was at Hitchin. Before long I spent most weekends at Top Field watching Josh play and after a few years Mick Docking approached me about sponsorship. I took him up on this as it was an opportunity to help the club financially which I knew could help towards building a better squad. Screenbond Ltd have been sponsoring the club ever since and I hope providing essential financial support over the years and particularly during the recent additional stresses created by Covid.”

As for my own recollections of the early years, I remembered Gordon in his playing days at Baldock where he was a key main at the back. This was in the days when Baldock played in the United Counties League and the Canaries were in the Isthmian, then sponsored by Vauxhall Opel. I uncovered an old programme from a County Cup tie between the Clubs on 29 October 1985 and there was Gordon in the Baldock line-up with other big names – Martin Allinson, Keith Stanton, Snowy Wright, Barry O’Keefe, Ian Donnelly and Peter Harvey.

As Gordon has said, the initial contacts were established at a time when Gordon had just stepped down from the manager’s role at Stotfold. Gordon’s son Josh had recently signed for us and understandably he was keen to follow his progress at Top Field. I remember many conversations held with Gordon over the years when he was itching to provide that extra few quid to fund this or that prolific goalscorer whose wage demands would have stretched our budget. I am not sure whether Mark ever managed to secure that elusive scoring sensation, but it was certainly not for lack of effort to fund him on Gordon’s part.

It was great to see Gordon’s financial contributions being more tangibly reflected when the Screenbond name appeared on the back of the shirts and even more gratifying when finally, Alma stepped down as main shirt sponsor and Screenbond assumed the main sponsor role.
Over the years, many fans must have wondered what Screenbond do exactly, well they were established in 1983 and are a manufacturer of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). PCBs, simply, are boards made for connecting electronic components together and are essential to the workings of everything from a battery operated toy to the highest tech computer. Without them modern day electronics could not function.

Screenbond remain a family run business based in Baldock providing PCB’s for businesses both locally and nationally and long may they thrive. You never know – perhaps one of their PCBs is bedded into the data tracking units we have just adopted for players?

After 12 plus years both Gordon and Josh are still part of the set up and never more valuable to the Club. A more pleasant and patient sponsor I have yet to meet, despite the occasional frustrations and disappointments over the years.

On behalf of the Club – Many Thanks.

BY MICK DOCKING