Match sponsor for Saturday’s first ever National League game is Strident Technology Group. Strident’s association with CRFC started when founders – Richard Acland & Richard Parker– were 1st XV regulars. Dinosaurs may have stopped walking the earth but they certainly still shuffled around rugby pitches.

As the pic suggests the company started life as Chase Business Solutions. Their first sponsored match was in 1998 against Brentwood who usefully fielded TV legend Ross Kemp at centre. At the height of his Eastenders fame, Ross happily helped with promotion, mingled with the masses and even bought a jug or two. A great bloke.

Named after the 300 year old property in which they started, Chase was suddenly and violently forced to rename and rebrand by the bank of the same name who simply wanted their domain name. The scars have nearly healed … ‘Strident’ arose from a small acquisition in Ipswich and they now happily support both clubs.

Strident raises business performance through information technologies. For further info please visit their web site at www.strident.co.uk.