Rovers legend James Coppinger is set to be honoured as part of a ground-breaking commercial agreement with 100Club Partner Red Viking Rail.
The Doncaster-based railway construction company has agreed to sponsor the West Stand for the next two years, with the request that it be referred to as ‘James Coppinger West Stand’.
Red Viking Rail are celebrating ten years as sponsors of the DRFC Academy, and the company’s director Kevin Baker said that this new sponsorship was a perfect way to mark the anniversary.
He said: “It’s an honour for me, for my company, to be involved in something like this.
“It’s quite surreal. Ten years ago when I set the company up, I never thought I’d be able to do anything like this. I love the club. I named the company after the club.
“To support the youth team, and then the stand, especially with it being associated with Copps, it’s pretty unreal.”
After hanging up his boots last summer, all-time record appearance maker Coppinger was appointed as head of football operations earlier this year, and said that the support of Red Viking Rail in bestowing this honour meant everything to him.
He said: “It’s a massive, proud moment for me. I got a bit emotional when I was told. It’s a huge honour.”
“It’s not just making it the James Coppinger West Stand but the backing Kevin has given commercially is absolutely massive for what we’re about and what we want to be about.
“Support for this club comes in so many different forms. For Kevin to understand what difference his support can make by doing this, it’s huge. It gives us the best opportunity on the pitch to produce a team that fans, supporters and staff can be proud of.”
The club are set to announce a number of new and renewed 100Club Partner agreements in the coming weeks.
And chief commercial officer Jon Warburton said the Red Viking Rail deal was just the first of many positive agreements supporters can expect to hear about before the season starts in July.
He said: “The opportunity came about for a new West Stand sponsor and Kevin at Red Viking Rail was the first person on the phone, champing at the bit.”
“The fact we’ve got a commercial sponsor supporting us financially with the agreement but then quite selflessly said they don’t want their name on it but instead James Coppinger, what a huge thing for someone to do.
“It means the world to us as a club that we have that level of support.”
For more information on the 100Club Partner Programme, please contact commercial@clubdoncaster.co.uk.