Castle Lager announced their sponsorship of the Surrey Championship with an evening at the Old Emanuel Cricket Club in New Malden on the 23rd April. This marks the first time that the South African beer has sponsored cricket in England.

Castle Lager has been involved in the promotion of sport since the early 1900s, but has focused the main part of its sponsorship in the major sports in South Africa. It has been involved in such sponsorship projects as the South African Football and Rugby teams and currently is the sponsor of the South African Cricket side.

The Castle Lager Surrey Championship forms an integral part of summer life in Surrey and these community-based events are dependent upon the support of sponsors such as Castle Lager. The Castle Lager Surrey Championship not only provides a superb standard for established cricketers, but also gives the opportunity for new generations to flourish, and safeguard the future of the game.

Apparently a chief brewer at Castle Lager once said that every great beer begins with a vision: of perfect taste, colour and aroma, and of the laughter and friendship that abounds when an honest brew is flowing. This typifies the ethos surrounding the Surrey Championship, which thrives off a competitive but friendly atmosphere.

Hilary Jamieson, the Brand Manager for Castle Lager (UK), spoke of the new sponsorship, saying: "We are delighted to be the sponsors of the Castle Lager Surrey Championship. We have been sponsoring sport in South Africa for a number of years, but it has been one of our aims for a long time to become part of English cricket and we are fortunate that we were given the opportunity to sponsor such an established Championship such as Surrey's. We, at Castle Lager, are all looking forward to both a very successful season and relationship with the Surrey Championship."

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