The club would like to congratulate one of its major partners, TL Dallas Group, on celebrating their centenary anniversary this coming year.
To kick-off their centenary year, TL Dallas Group are sponsoring tomorrow’s New Year’s Day fixture against Accrington Stanley.
TL Dallas are a proud Centurion sponsor and their name sits proudly on the TL Dallas Stand, situated opposite The Kop.
TL Dallas Group is one of the UK's leading independent insurance broking and risk management companies with offices throughout the UK – providing insurance services and solutions for 100 years.
As well as offering business insurance, they also insure private clients, offer trade credit insurance, risk management and health & safety services - and they also boast a financial services division.
In 1919, Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE, founded the business in Bradford having gained experience working for Christian Salvesen and Scottish Life Assurance Company.
At this time, there were over 300 mills operating in Bradford. With the textile industry growing rapidly, many of their early clients were those from the wool textile trade, giving TL Dallas the platform to grow their business – resulting in them acquiring and retaining top quality commercial clients from all sectors of industry and commerce over the decades. They also added offices throughout the UK and now have 10 branches.
Some of those early clients were various businesses owned by or associated with the Fattorini family including Fattorini’s Jewellers, Empire Stores and Grattan. The Fattorini family played a crucial role in Bradford City’s history after World War I.
Thomas Fattorini Ltd, who they still work with to this day, is a 191-year-old family run and owned jewellery, medal and trophy making business that design and crafts bespoke items in a range of precious materials. They are famous for designing and creating the current FA Cup; Bradford City were the very first winners of it in 1911.
Through the Fattorini family they had their first active involvement with the Bantams in the 1920s when Thomas Dallas invested in the club and was a Director. Since 2003 they have been the official stand sponsor of the ‘Bradford End’.
But their work with the club doesn’t stop there. They represent the club at various events to encourage other businesses to get involved and back the Bantams which creates a new vision for Bradford supporters.
Mike Martin, director of TL Dallas Group, said: “We first became involved in the stand sponsorship after relegation to the Championship when a number of sponsors decided to walk away.
“We had been corporate tickets holders for some years before that and had taken an executive box in the new main stand.
“I agreed a deal with Julian Rhodes and our client, New Vision Signs & Graphics, created the signage. It is very prominent and regularly features on TV and in the media.
“We really value our involvement with the club and have made friends with many other corporate sponsors and supporters and as well as taking an active role in promoting Bradford and helping the local community over the years.
“Five years ago, our people set themselves the goal to raise £100,000 for charity by the time the company was 100 years old.
“A variety of charities were selected by our various offices throughout the UK, with the aim to give something back to the community. The charities chosen were both national and local.
“I am pleased to say the target will be met next year, thanks to the fantastic efforts of our staff who have organised many great fundraising events and sporting challenges for these great causes.”