The Exeter-based communications company is the Chiefs main and first team sponsor and assisted the club in delivering a mobile voting service whereby supporters can vote for their man of the match rather than it being decided on by the day’s match sponsor.
Supporters simply use their mobiles to text the surname of the player they wish to vote for any time between kick-off and 10 minutes prior to the match end. The votes are counted during the last 10 minutes of the game and the man of the match is announced after the final whistle.
Exeter Chiefs deputy chief executive Keiron Northcott said: “We wanted to provide a facility that ensured our supporters’ could vote for their man of the match in the fairest way possible. We were also hoping to raise extra revenue for the club and South West Communications Group will donate 30p from every vote received back to the club.”
This new voting system was rolled out last weekend with the first recipient of the supporters’ man of the match being Samoan flanker Chad Slade.
Slade said: “It is always an honour to be presented with the man of the match award, but to know it has been voted for by the supporters makes it even more special.”
South West Communications Group offers a full range of mobile solutions providing everything from basic mobile telephony to sophisticated voice and data devices. Its mobile voice services are provided at bespoke competitive rates with data services delivered through devices such as the BlackBerry or the leading equivalent with either ‘pull’ or ‘push’ capabilities. South West Communications Group also provides mobile Internet broadband speed access for laptops and palm held devices ensuring people on the move never need to be out of touch.
Harry Langley, managing director of South West Communications Group, said: “Not enough businesses know of our capabilities in the mobile arena for integrating mobility solutions into business communication systems. Text voting for the Chiefs is one example and a great demonstration of what we can do."