Proudly backing sport in North Devon
Opening our Barnstaple branch meant becoming part of a new community, and there’s no better way to do that than supporting the clubs at its heart. We’re proud to sponsor two local sides: one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country and a grassroots football club just across the estuary.
Good financial planning is about the long term, and so is a good sports club. Both rely on commitment, teamwork and people who show up season after season.
Whether it’s a National League rugby side or a village football team, clubs like these are run by volunteers who give their time so others can play. Our sponsorship is a small way of saying thank you, and of investing in the place we now call home.
Founded in 1877, Barnstaple RFC, known locally as Barum, is one of the oldest clubs in the English game. The Chiefs play in red and white at Pottington Road, their home for more than a century, and today compete in National League 2 West.
Key dates
Year | Milestone |
1877 | Club founded at the Fortescue Hotel |
1921 | Move to Pottington Road |
2024 | National Cup finalists |
2025 | Regional 1 South West champions |
Alongside the Chiefs, the club runs the Athletic and Buccaneers sides, a veterans team, a girls’ section and youth rugby from under-7s right through to under-18s.
In 2024–25 the Chiefs won the Regional 1 South West title and the Devon Senior Cup, earning a return to National League rugby, while the Athletic and Buccaneers picked up silverware of their own.
Pottington Road has seen players go on to the very top, from the late All Black Jerry Collins to Scotland scrum-half Ben Vellacott.
Address: Pottington Road, Barnstaple
Northam Lions are a true grassroots club, playing in the North Devon Football League and representing the town of Northam, just across the Torridge from Bideford. We’re proud to have been their sponsor since 2026.
The Lions have been part of the North Devon League for decades, including spells in its Premier Division, where they finished third in four seasons around the turn of the millennium.
Like so many local clubs, the Lions run on the goodwill of players, volunteers and supporters who keep football going in Northam week in, week out.
Investing in this club to support their team, kit and on pitch equipment is vital for this club.
Whether you’ve seen our name on the touchline or you’re looking for advice you can trust, our North Devon team would love to hear from you.
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