Chatham Town Football Club agree community partnership with BAE Systems and welcomes Medway McDonald’s as one of their newest commercial partners

Chatham Town are strengthening their commitment to the Medway community.

The Chats have agreed exciting new partnerships involving BAE Systems and McDonald’s, as the club looks to make an impact beyond the football pitch.

The football club have teamed up with BAE Systems, whose base near Rochester Airport is a thriving electronic systems hub. The collaboration is aimed at enhancing existing community programmes and creating new opportunities for children, young people and families across the area.

The partnership will explore initiatives around education, careers, mental health and wellbeing, volunteering and community participation, with both organisations keen to use their local connections to make a positive difference.

It comes as the club also welcome Medway McDonald’s as one of their newest commercial partners, with a shared focus on mental health and wellbeing.

Community work has long been a focus for Chatham chairman and first-team manager Kevin Hake, with the club previously recognised for their efforts away from the game, picking up the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service back in 2022.

Their latest initiatives include the ‘After The Whistle’ sessions, which offer an opportunity for anyone under the age of 16 to stay behind after matches and take part in activities on the pitch. Youngsters can join in with games including 3v3 Last Team Standing, the Top Bins Challenge and 1v1 Showdown.

The club have also demonstrated their ability to bring people together for a good cause, recently raising £2,847 for the Wisdom Hospice through donations during their Kent Senior Cup tie against Gillingham, which was free to attend.

Hake said the link-up with BAE Systems would help the club extend their community work