Community links are set to be further strengthened and enhanced as part of an exciting new partnership between the University of Derby and Derby County Football Club.
The Family and Community Stand at Derby County's Pride Park Stadium is set to be named the University of Derby Stand for the 2007/08 season as the football club prepare for life back in the Premier League.
The announcement forms part of a package of measures that will cement the relationship between the university and the football club, reflecting the growing confidence of both organisations.
As well as the fantastic achievement of the Rams in securing promotion back to the top flight in May, with a halt having to be called on season ticket sales at a record-breaking 23,500, the university is enjoying a successful phase in its development.
This includes the emergence of the new University Quarter for Derby - which brings together its sites at Kedleston Road, Britannia Mill and the new £21m Markeaton Street site.
The university's £20m Devonshire Campus in Buxton is also proving a success and has won a series of awards for the restoration of the former Devonshire Royal Hospital.
The Rams already have an excellent track record in community involvement and were finalists in this year's Derbyshire Business Awards for their community programme.
BBC's national Football Focus programme recently celebrated the partnership between the FA, mental health academics at the university and the football club's community development team in the success of Derwent Valley Rovers, a team encouraging people with mental health illnesses in the city to get involved in sport.
This latest announcement will act as a springboard to help develop even closer working between the University and the club, to help inspire young people in the city.
Professor John Coyne, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "The University of Derby is ambitious and making great progress, so we are delighted to be able to work with the football club and to be associated with their tremendous recent success.
"I am sure that by working together and giving mutual support we can raise the profile of sport, learning and the pursuit of excellence.
"We can learn a great deal from them. The current board have worked miracles and we have every confidence that success can be built further from here."
Peter Gadsby, chairman of Derby County, said: "I have been talking to the university for over a year about ways in which we can work together, so I am delighted this new partnership has now been formalised.
"Our corporate and sponsorship business has reached new heights as we prepare for Premier League football and the new relationship with the University of Derby is one that particularly pleases me, as both our organisations are deeply rooted in the local community."
