SOCCER club director Brian Cook has spread his sporting interests by putting money into rugby.
Mr Cook is a director of Gloucester City but he has business interests in Lydney and has joined together with Wesleyan Financial Services to come up with a two season two kit deal to back the town's rugby club.
Lydney remain the highest place club in English rugby without a major financial backer.
Club chairman Dr Peter Catlin explained: "We have the support of a many small businesses and we are grateful for that.
"Jewson League Division One is, of course, rugby's national third division. It is a hugely expensive league to play in with fixtures throughout England. Many of our opponents represent cities and very large towns and they have the advantage of considerable financial backing.
"We have to try and keep pace with them by other means so so we are grateful to Mr Cook's Whitehouse Press for his support. Brian is a keen sportsman and while his number one sport is football he does try and watch Lydney as often as possible."
The deal gives Lydney a change kit as well as their traditional black and white hoops.
Rugby administrator John Evans explained the decision to change shirt colours rested with referees.
"If a referee believes there is likely to be a clash then he can instruct the home team to change. Mr Cook and Wesleyan Financial Services have provided a red strip with their logos.
"It can be very disappointing for a sponsor when a change of strip means his name is not used. We felt very sorry for Thompson and Thompson who sponsored the first team strip in the year of our cup run only for the referee to ask us to change colours," he said.