The Angling Trust has announced that England’s U20 coarse fishing squad has secured a significant new sponsorship deal with Beechfield Original Headwear, a prominent name in sportswear. The announcement comes as the Angling Trust U20s team prepares to defend their title in the 2024 World Youth Championships.
The squad, led by team manager Jason Kirk and coach Samantha Sim, dominated last summer’s World Youth Championships in Portugal. The squad won team gold and individual gold and silver medals. This victory followed their impressive team silver at the 2022 championships in Slovenia.
The England U20 squad chosen to fish on Serbia’s DTD Canal this August includes World Champion Josh Duffy, and silver medallist Billy Kirk. George McHugh, and Alfie Nicholls also return from last year’s squad. They will be joined by newcomers Harry Franklin, Jacob Lees, and James Geddes, who will win their first caps.
Beechfield Original Headwear, based in Bury, is renowned for its fishing headwear and dedication to supporting youth fishing. Matt O’Connor, Beechfield’s Head of Marketing, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership.
We’re thrilled to support this incredible group of young anglers. They’ve shown immense dedication and teamwork in preparing for the World Championship, and I’m confident they’ll excel again this year.
Steve Fitzpatrick, the Angling Trust’s Head of Competitions and Team England noted the impact of the previous U20 sponsor SSB Group, before welcoming their new sponsor.
I’d like to thank Jeremy and the SSB Group for their support of the team over the past two years. There’s no doubt their backing created a stable base for the team to focus on success.
Beechfield shares our passion for helping young people achieve their dreams through quality support, coaching, and financial backing. I’m sure this group will continue to dominate the World scene and achieve domestic successes too.
Team manager Jason Kirk emphasized the positive impact of Beechfield’s sponsorship on the squad’s preparations.
A huge thanks to Matt at Beechfield for their incredible support. It takes a lot of pressure off and allows the anglers to fully focus on their fishing. This squad’s performances demonstrate what young anglers can achieve with the right backing.
The U20s squad has been preparing for months, and with Beechfield’s support, they are ready to excel at the upcoming championship in Serbia. Check out our video below for more details, including interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s recent training day.