Speedway has always been a thrilling, family-friendly event. The noise, the speed, the atmosphere, it’s a sport that grips both regular fans and first-time visitors. For the team at AsMATT, speedway has long been a personal passion, so when we learned about the Thurrock Hammers, we felt compelled to help.
The Hammers’ story stretches back to 1984. For over 35 years, they thrilled local crowds at the Arena Essex Raceway, a venue that became a cornerstone of the community. Sadly, the track was closed in September 2018 when the site was sold for redevelopment. Unlike football pitches or cricket grounds, speedway tracks don’t enjoy legal protection against such closures, leaving teams vulnerable to losing their homes overnight.
Rather than accepting defeat, the Hammers fought back. Determined to keep their sport alive, they now organise between 3 and 5 meetings a year at rented tracks across the country. These events allow the team to keep competing, but high venue costs and the lack of a permanent home in Thurrock mean many local fans are deprived of easy access to the sport they love.
This is where sponsorship becomes vital. By supporting the Hammers, we hope to help them move closer to their long-term vision: the creation of a new multi-use community facility where speedway can once again flourish in Thurrock.
Their mission is about more than racing, it’s about protecting a tradition, giving families a local day out, and ensuring that young riders have a chance to pursue the sport. As a grassroots Essex-based Speedway Club, they run a Youth System that brings emerging riders through the ranks, with three of the team’s current top riders, Jason Edwards, Ben Morley, and Alfie Bowtell, having risen through it themselves. We’re incredibly proud that the AsMATT name is associated with such determination and community spirit.
Learn more about Thurrock Hammers Speedway and discover how you can get involved here.
Another individual we’re proud to support is Dave Ferriman, a highly accomplished clay and game shooter from our local area.
Dave first picked up a shotgun at the age of 13 and quickly showed exceptional talent. By 2015, he had already earned his first Junior England team cap, and since then has gone on to represent his country at senior level as well. His career is decorated with achievements, but one highlight in particular stands out: winning the 2020 British Open Sporting Championships at Garlands Shooting Grounds in Staffordshire.
In 2024, Dave continued to excel, securing first place in the English Open AAA and also being crowned BASC Best in Field Champion. These successes demonstrate not only his skill but also his consistency at the very top of the sport.
Like many professional athletes, Dave’s career requires constant travel, across the UK and beyond, to compete in tournaments. With expenses for travel, accommodation and entry fees mounting up, external sponsorship plays a key role in enabling him to keep performing at his best.
When he’s not competing, Dave shares his knowledge through coaching sessions for shooters of all levels. Whether someone is a complete novice wanting to try clay shooting for the first time, or an experienced competitor looking to fine-tune their performance, Dave provides expert instruction. His lessons take place at leading venues such as Sporting Targets (Bedfordshire), Orston (Nottingham), Eriswell Lodge (Suffolk), Eaton Hall (Derbyshire) and Barby Sporting (Rugby).
Supporting Dave means supporting the future of shooting in the UK as well as showing aspiring athletes what’s possible with dedication and talent.
You can explore more about Dave’s career and coaching here.
Women’s football is enjoying an extraordinary rise in popularity. England’s Lionesses have inspired a new generation by winning consecutive European Championships, and at grassroots level, more girls than ever are taking up the sport.
We’re proud to play our part in this movement by sponsoring the winter training kit for Bowers & Pitsea Ladies FC U15s; a club that embodies passion, teamwork and ambition.
The club’s first team competes in the Eastern Region Premier Division, playing home fixtures at the Len Salmon Stadium in Basildon. They are joined by a reserve squad and a thriving youth structure, with teams at Under-15, Under-14, Under-13 and Under-11 level. This wide range of participation is proof that women’s football is not a passing trend but a permanent and growing part of the sporting landscape.
Our sponsorship helps to provide the resources that these players need to keep developing their skills and enjoying the game. For us, it’s not just about football, it’s about encouraging healthy lifestyles, building confidence, and giving young women the same opportunities their male counterparts have long enjoyed.
We encourage local supporters to get behind the Reds. Details of matches, teams and fixtures can be found here.
At AsMATT, supporting local sport initiatives is only one of the ways we stay connected to the communities around us. We are active members of the Essex Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, ensuring that we contribute to the wider business landscape as well.
And of course, our central mission remains the same: providing safe, professional asbestos surveying and removal. With over 50 years of combined experience, our team is fully licensed, insured and trained to carry out this essential work in homes and commercial properties across Southeast England, London and the surrounding counties.
We take pride in helping to protect families and workplaces by safely removing hazardous asbestos, and in the same spirit, we take pride in helping protect the future of local sports by supporting those who need it most.
If you’re concerned about asbestos in your property, or if you simply want to learn more about our services, please get in touch with our friendly team today. We’ll be happy to provide a free, no-obligation quotation.
