Stafford Town FC
“Stafford Town FC runs no fewer than 31 teams, from U7s to U18s boys and girls and our ladies and men’s 1st teams. There’s also our Dragons special needs teams and a facility for our younger generation of 4 to 6-year-old players, who can then move up into the U7s and beyond.
“We have some 400 participating and around 80 volunteer coaches, managers and assistants,” says Stafford Town FC Chairman Paul Beedell, “so we run a big operation.”
Paul was a manager and coach for ten years, club Vice-Chairman for nearly two years and was appointed acting Chairman in early 2018, then permanently this year.
“In all that time, Mark Harrod Ltd has supplied the club with everything from mini to full-size goalposts, dugouts, corner flags and training equipment for our 3G stadium pitch and various natural grass pitches.”
The Club’s partnership with Mark Harrod Ltd is a two-way relationship, Paul explains. “The company supplies quality products that last, important criteria for us as a voluntary, self-funding organisation.
“We also rely on their follow-up service and support. Goals come in for plenty of use and need maintaining and repairing, which Mark Harrod Ltd are happy to do. It’s a phone call to them and they respond, also advising us how to keep everything pristine and alerting us to new products.
“For our part, we allow Mark Harrod exclusive access to the stadium when they wish to test products or video equipment. They also support our tournaments and Funday events, by staging penalty shoots-outs using their goalposts for example and offering raffle prizes. All in all we enjoy a strongly collaborative relationship.”
Paul Beedell, Chairman of Stafford Town FC
Scottish Football Association
“In preparation for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championships hosted by the Scottish FA in the summer of 2020, we approached Mark Harrod Ltd for support with the supply of goals for both the match venues and training centres.
“The subsequent levels of service received could only be described as exemplary. From initial engagement through to delivery and the related logistics involved in a multiple site tournament, every issue encountered was dealt with in a timely and impressively efficient manner.
“Furthermore, and is often the case with high-level tournament delivery, when critical issues arose during the event, the response from Mark Harrod Ltd was hugely impressive.”
Cameron Watt, Facilities Manager, Scottish Football Association
England Amputee Football Association
Mark Harrod’s response to the England Amputee Football Association’s approach to them in support for the governing body’s bid for the 2018 Amputee World Cup was to donate a set of international standard 9 x 9 goals for their Reaseheath national training facility in Cheshire.
“Players were delighted to train and compete with a quality of equipment befitting the international standard of football,” says EAFA Head Coach Owen Coyle.
“The goals far surpassed what we’d been able to provide previously and were used throughout the year for a variety of training sessions and fixtures.
“When we approached Mark Harrod Ltd for additional support part way through 2018 they were only too willing to help, supplying a brand new set of 9 x 9 box net goals that our goalkeepers say are the finest they have ever seen. They are used at least two weekends every month, Saturdays and Sundays throughout both days.
“It’s all down to Mark Harrod Ltd that the EAFA is able to deliver such a highly professional standard of equipment for our players, which matches the international status of the England amputee team.”
Owen Coyle, Head Coach, England Amputee Football Association
English Schools’ Football Association
“Mark Harrod Ltd is one of our preferred suppliers, who every year gift us goals for the English Schools Football Association’s national and regional finals.
“For the Playstation Schools Cup three-day national finals, held at West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns stadium in May 2019, Mark Harrod supplied a full-set of 9-a-side goals.
“In March 2019, they provided four sets of 7-a-side portable goals for the South West U11s English Schools Cup finals, staged at Somerdale Pavilion near Bristol, when 32 teams competed for the trophy.
“As an organisation with a heavy emphasis on goalpost safety, the ESFA believes the partnership with Mark Harrod Ltd presents a good fit in terms of shared values and priorities.
“Mark Harrod Ltd not only design and manufacture high quality goalposts they also are committed to educating those who use them – mainly teachers, also a key target for the ESFA.
“Maintaining player safety is critical. Mark Harrod Ltd understands this and delivers the quality and specification of product to help ensure the ESFA continues to provide the appropriate playing environment for the U11 to U18 age groups.
“Mark Harrod Ltd provided an equally satisfying service for the English Schools FA Cup U12-U15s finals, held at Stoke City FC’s Bet365 stadium in May 2019, delivering their 9×9 goalposts by lorry to the venue, assembling them for the tournament then disassembling them afterwards – a superb service that leaves us free to focus on the competition itself.
“For the U11s Danone Nations Cup Finals at Birmingham City FC’s St Andrew’s stadium, Mark Harrod Ltd gifted a brand new set of four, 7-a-side goalposts for the competition, held in May 2019.
“They provided steel counterweights to anchor the goals to the pitch, knowing that using hooks to secure them could prove detrimental to the pitch – once again, a fantastic service.”
Darren Alcock, National Competitions Manager, English Schools Football Association
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC testimonial
“The Molineux stadium goals Mark Harrod Ltd supplied when Wolves gained promotion to the Premier League have performed outstandingly well, as you’d expect of such top-end equipment and materials, manufactured by the company to meet both home and European league requirements.
“Construction of our Desso Grassmaster show pitch at our Jack Howarth training ground required associated equipment and facilities, which Mark Harrod Ltd also supplied.
“These include match and warm-up goals, ball stop netting, team shelters and Duralock white post and rail perimeter fencing.
“Mark Harrod Ltd Managing Director Sean Wallett and the team provide an extremely high quality, prompt, professional service with fantastic after sales support and he is more than happy to come over to adjust anything for us.
“Suppliers we have used previously would not supply products that weren’t listed in their catalogue but Mark Harrod are prepared to develop bespoke ones to suit our requirements. His response is always: `I’m sure we can help you`.
“We have worked together successfully for many years now and both Wolves and Mark Harrod Ltd continue to grow with each other.”
Wayne Lumbard, Head Groundsman, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC