13 Dec 2024 Community

The Kirkwood Partners with Dewsbury Rams: A Community Collaboration for 2025

The Kirkwood can announce an exciting partnership with the Dewsbury Rams and old and well respected Rugby League club at the heart of it's community. 

As a beloved local charity supporting individuals across Kirklees with life limiting illnesses. They two organisations have similar outlooks on trying to foster an all together mentality and community spirit in their individual sectors. 

For the 2025 Betfred League One season, The Kirkwood’s logo will feature prominently on the right sleeve of both the Rams’ home and away shirts. This collaboration signifies a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact in the Dewsbury community while celebrating the club's heritage.

The Rams’ new kits, designed by Ellgren, pay tribute to the club’s storied past, particularly the 25th anniversary of their iconic Grand Final victory against Leigh Centurions in 2000. This special moment in the club’s history has been carefully reflected in the design of both the home and away shirts.

The Home Shirt: Inspired by the jersey worn during that triumphant day at Gigg Lane, the home kit is a modern reimagining of the Rams’ classic colours. A unique touch includes the names of the entire 2000 squad and head coach Neil Kelly, which are printed on the back of each shirt as a tribute to their contribution to the club’s proud legacy.

The Away Shirt: The away kit takes a different direction, featuring the Rams’ traditional red, amber, and black hoops, a design that resonates with fans as a nod to the club’s heritage. The shirt combines a bold yet timeless look, ensuring it stands out on and off the field.

Both kits include a modified badge and text within the collar, marking the 25th anniversary of the Grand Final win. These subtle yet significant details reflect the Rams' respect for their history while looking ahead to future successes.

For the first time, The Kirkwood’s logo will be proudly displayed on the sleeve of both kits, strengthening the connection between the rugby league club and the charity. This placement ensures high visibility during matches and provides an opportunity to highlight The Kirkwood’s invaluable work to both local fans and wider audiences.

Jim Coward, Media and Marketing Manager for The Kirkwood, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership:

"We’re delighted to be partnering with the Dewsbury Rams for the 2025 Betfred League One season. To have the chance to feature on both the home and away shirt next season is a huge privilege; it’s fantastic exposure for us.

"As a local charity, many of the people we care for will have an affiliation with Dewsbury Rams, so it’s a great opportunity to showcase who we are and engage with their dedicated fanbase.

"Locally, we know there are many people living with a life-limiting illness who may benefit from our services. But many don’t reach out soon enough for us to make a positive difference to their quality of life. Sometimes they don’t reach out at all. We hope that this collaboration will encourage more people from Dewsbury to find out about the many ways The Kirkwood helps patients and families here in Kirklees.

"We would like to thank the club and can’t wait for what is all set to be an exciting new season!"

The Rams have always prided themselves on being at the heart of the Dewsbury community, and this partnership with The Kirkwood reinforces that commitment. By featuring The Kirkwood’s logo, the club aims to increase awareness of the charity’s work and encourage more people to engage with its services.

Tony Scargill, speaking on behalf of the Dewsbury Rams, highlighted the significance of this collaboration:

"We feel that a club such as ours has an important role to play in the local community. The need for high-quality and compassionate end-of-life care is something many families may well require at some stage.

"We hope that by working in partnership with The Kirkwood we can help to promote their name within our supporter base and beyond by showcasing their logo on our playing kits.

"It is vitally important their name becomes known throughout the area and that this in turn not only helps them to generate the funding that they need but also helps people within the area have a name they know they can turn to in their hour of need."

As the Dewsbury Rams strive for success in the 2025 season, their new kits represent much more than a fresh look. They serve as a symbol of the club’s proud history, an aspiration for future victories, and a reminder of their dedication to supporting the local community.

With The Kirkwood’s logo on the sleeves and the 2000 Grand Final squad honoured in the design, the shirts are a celebration of resilience, teamwork, and community spirit. For both the Rams and The Kirkwood, 2025 promises to be a season of meaningful impact both on and off the field.