Bournemouth Athletic FC will be kicking off next year wearing new shirts sponsored by the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCTC).

The Pelhams-based outfit are currently flying high in Division 3 of the MA Hart Bournemouth Football League.

The new shirts are emblazoned with the Chamber’s logo and will help increase the profile of the business membership organisation.

Matt Maclean from BCTC said: “When we heard the first team was looking for a shirt sponsor, we felt it was a good fit.

Bournemouth Athletic is one of the oldest and most respected Sunday clubs in the area and the Chamber goes back more than a century. There is a lot of synergy between us.

The team plays in the Bournemouth Football League where our logo will receive lots of exposure.

We are experiencing exciting times with the Chamber as lots of new businesses come onboard.

It’s our goal to build the organisation to benefit all our members and the local economy – and we hope Bournemouth Athletic’s goals will help boost our presence in the town.”

The team’s manager, John McKay, said: “We had been looking for a new sponsor and were really pleased when the Chamber offered such a prestigious sponsorship.

Considering the respective reputations and histories, we expect our partnership to be mutually beneficial and enhance our joint profiles.

Wearing such a beautiful kit, with all the players looking so professional really does help our performances on the pitch, and it assists in forging a tight team unit.”