The initial three year sponsorship deal with the adhesives and sealants manufacturer will significantly enhance the future of non-league football in the North and Midlands, with increased funding and a greater focus on club development.

Phil Varney, Chairman of Belper Town Football Club said; “This is excellent news for both the League and ourselves as the sponsorship deal will provide additional funds to help to meet the ever-increasing operational costs of football clubs at our level of the game. Added to that, by securing a household name like Evo-Stik as the new League sponsor, will certainly raise the profile of our club both locally and nationally.”

England hat-trick hero and West Ham legend, Sir Geoff Hurst was a guest of the Northern Premier Football League at Lilleshall today, when the league unveiled its new sponsor.

Geoff Hurst, who was scouted by West Ham whilst playing for a non-league Sunday team in the Tandridge League, is an advocate for non-league football and its role in the development of the English game. Geoff welcomed the Evo-Stik sponsorship.

Sir Geoff Hurst: "I think it’s fair to say that academies at clubs do not work as a sole way of providing up and coming talent - non-league football has a far better track record.

"You only have to look at what has happened with Chris Smalling this year, who has gone from non-league to Fulham and then onto Manchester United in a short space of time.

"We are approaching our last major tournament with the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Terry and Ferdinand and we need to have the system in place to find the next big English stars. I believe non-league football has a massive part to play in that.

"Everyone knows the major money is in the Premiership so it is great to see a company seeing the bigger picture and investing beyond that - I cannot praise Evo-Stik enough for that."

Chris Alderson, a Director of Bostik UK, said: “Football sponsorship is new territory for us, and we are incredibly excited about it. The Evo-Stik League gives us a superb opportunity to promote our brand name to all the people involved in non-league football - the players, the coaches, the officials and the fans - and in return to put something back into the communities they live in.”