At the start of a new season the top local football league has been given a major boost.

Although the North Leicestershire Football League had individual sponsors for each of its five divisions and its two main cup competitions, it did not have a main sponsor for the league as a whole. Now all that has changed with Loughborough's medicine research and development company AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood coming forward with a three year sponsorship deal.

At a special presentation evening, AstraZeneca handed over a cheque for £1,500 to league president Maurice Briers and chairman Reg Chapman. Also present were the deputy Mayor of Charnwood Borough Council, Coun Neville Bird, and the Deputy Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, Coun John Fisher.

The league has provided thousands of local players with competitive football since its foundation 70 years ago. A total of 40 clubs will participate in the five divisions in the coming season spread from Ashby in the West to Melton Mowbray in the East and Kegworth in the North to Birstall in the South.

Peter Brown, the league's secretary said: "We are very grateful to AstraZeneca for agreeing to become the main sponsor of the league. We feel we have the premier league in the district and to have the backing of such a high profile company is tremendous."

Gill Hilsdon said that although AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood was known as one of the world's top medicines research companies, it was naturally interested in all aspects of health care. "The North Leicestershire League provides the facilities for hundreds of players not only to enjoy the game but also to keep fit doing it and we are delighted to be able to support it in this."

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