The final remaining number remaining on East London RFC's shirt sponsors board, which offers a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to offer the club much needed financial support, has now been filled.
The shirt sponsors board hangs on the wall of the clubhouse at the Memorial Ground in West Ham with the names of individuals, groups, or companies attached to a certain number.
Club chairman Simon Crick said: "It's proved particularly popular for former players to sponsor their old shirt numbers. Running a rugby club is an expensive business these days and we cannot rely on match fees and membership fees alone so we have to be creative in how we raise vital funds. We thank all those sponsors who have signed up for the scheme."
Brothers and 3rd XV players Bill and Jack Topping have purchased the number 18 shirt on behalf of the Topping family.
Jeff and Jo Brown (parents of 1st XV winger Bill), and Richard Bourke (father of 1st XV hooker Lewis), through his company DS Medical, were the latest to be thanked publicly for getting on board. They have taken numbers 11 and 2 respectively.
Others to have joined the scheme are Pete Stubbs, who has sponsored the 15 shirt, the number he wore as an under-16 player. Former fly-half Alister Gonse and his company Flight Design have sponsored the number 10 shirt.
Also already joined up are John Walker-Robertson who has sponsored the 12 shirt. The Coach & Horses pub in Leyton have taken the number 6 shirt. [/b]Chris Fisher[/b] has shirt 3.
Former players James Narramore and Jim Hosier have taken the number 7 and 8 shirts respectively, and George Collins has the number 14. Liam O'Brien has number 1, Tom Flynn has number 9, Rich Gregory has number 4 and Gordon Morris has number 5. Colin Fenn has taken shirt number 13. Vice-President Dave Armond has number 17, and Dave Wright has 16.
All those who have sponsored shirts will be welcomed to the club at some point during the season. The shirt sponsorship costs £300 with either an individual or company name entered on the clubhouse board. Sponsors also receive a selection of club merchandise, one free beer at each home game and a free seat at the annual Chairman's Lunch.
The full sponsorship list to date is:
1. Liam O'Brien
2. DS Medical
3. Chris Fisher
4. Rich Gregory
5. Gordon Morris
6. Coach & Horses pub, Leyton
7. James Narramore
8. Jimmy Hosier
9. Tom Flynn
10. Flight Design (Ali Gonse)
11. Jeff and Jo Brown
12. John Walker-Robertson
13. Colin Fenn
14. George Collins
15. Pete Stubbs
16. Dave Wright
17. Armond Consulting (Dave Armond)
18. Topping family