SUFFOLK last weekannounced a £30,000 sponsorship package ahead of the 2007 Minor Counties Championship season.The county unveiled Ipswich-based building & civil engineer contractors Brooks & Wood Ltd as their team sponsors, Samurai sportswear as their official clothing and kit suppliers and Executive Financial Planning Ltd as match ball sponsors in a two-year deal.

SUFFOLK yesterday announced a £30,000 sponsorship package ahead of the 2007 Minor Counties Championship season.

The county unveiled Ipswich-based building & civil engineer contractors Brooks & Wood Ltd as their team sponsors, Samurai sportswear as their official clothing and kit suppliers and Executive Financial Planning Ltd as match ball sponsors in a two-year deal.

Brooks & Wood Ltd, who have supported the county for several years and been match ball sponsors for the past three years, are taking over from the Braceforce Group as team sponsors.

Director Keith Cracknell, who used to play cricket locally, said: “We are delighted to support Suffolk cricket. It is nice to put something back into the local community.”

The Braceforce Group, whose backing enabled the county to sign former England Test stars Devon Malcolm and Chris Schofield during their three years as main sponsors, are to continue financially supporting the county.

Neil Sands of Samurai sportswear, who are based at Long Stratton in Norfolk, said: “We have always been suppliers of rugby clothing and we decided cricket would be the best sport in which to diversify, especially having our own factory to manufacture the clothing.

“We have seen the potential of cricket in the county thanks to our involvement with the Braceforce Group through their support of both Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk cricket and we aim to use Suffolk cricket as our vehicle for marketing ourselves.”

Roy Haddock, a director of Executive Financial Planning Ltd, said: “A lot of people put a great deal of effort into running the county behind the scenes and it is nice to be in a position to support them.”

Toby Pound, secretary of the Suffolk Cricket Board, said: “Sponsorship is crucial to any county in the Minor Counties Championship, where funding has become increasingly scarce.

“The financial support we have received from Braceforce over the last three years has been invaluable. We are extremely grateful to Brooks & Wood for their support in recent years and for now offering to become our main sponsors. With their help and that of Braceforce we aim to maintain our position as one of the leading minor counties.

“We also look forward to forging close links with Samurai as clothes and kit provider for all Suffolk teams,” he added.

Kevin Brooks, Suffolk's director of cricket, said that the county would pursue signing a former first-class cricketer as their professional for next season should they identify someone who becomes available.

Chris Schofield, who filled the role last season, has signed for Surrey but is on a dual registration so may play if available.

Former Essex all-rounder Paul Grayson, who played in one-day matches for Suffolk last season, is still registered and will play subject to his commitments at Essex, where he is now a coach.

Brooks added that opening batsman Ben France, who has been released by Derbyshire who he joined on a two-year contract, has agreed to return to play for Suffolk in the coming season.