Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Paul Lalor (right), president of the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI), shakes hands with Waterhouse Football Club president Peter Hibbert, as he puts into motion his company's sponsorship, valued at $500,000 to the club. The presentation took part during the half-time interval of Sunday's Wray and Nephew National Premier League encounter between Waterhouse and Seba United at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium. Waterhouse won 4-0. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WATERHOUSE FOOTBALL Club had more than one reason to celebrate on Sunday as the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI) pumped in $500,000 into the operations of the club.
Paul Lalor, president of ICWI, was happy to hand over the symbolic cheque to Bruce Bicknell, the club's vice-chairman and president Peter Hibbert, during the half-time break with Waterhouse leading 1-0 and well in control.
"Waterhouse Football Club is showing Jamaica what can be done. I know you have worked hard at unity and as a community, which I know is the best in Jamaica, " said Lalor, as the fans roared in approval.
"Continue to work with unity and I promised that we at ICWI will be supporting you with an increasing amount every year," added Lalor, Jamaica's Rhodes Scholar in 1990.
Bicknell, in his response, said the sponsorship is very important and will help a lot, especially the community.
"I want to thank ICWI for their support. I know they will benefit. Football does a lot to the community as it helps reduce crime," said Bicknell, who also manages Tank-Weld Metals Ltd., Jamaica's biggest distributor of steel.
"Our goal is to make Waterhouse a model community, violence-free, and football is the main reason," he noted.
Waterhouse spends approximately $15m a year to operate and Bicknell suggested that a $60m prize money would be more appropriate as the clubs are spending much more than what is being offered now.
"We are chasing a $2m prize money and we are spending much more than that. We are really doing it for the communities," said Bicknell.
Most of the top clubs stay afloat through corporate sponsorship, billboards, ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 a year and gate receipts.
