The owners of a new multi-million pound hotel scheme in Preston city centre have announced they are sponsoring a city-based football charity.

The Shankly Hotel group will be backing the Sir Tom Finney Preston Soccer Centre.

It builds on the football-links for the hotel which is due to open in the Old Post Office building.

The Sir Tom Finney Soccer Centre helps develop grasroots football across the city.

Grandson of Bill Shankly, Christopher “William Shankly” Carline, is one of the team at Signature Living behind the deal and the new hotel.

“We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the Sir Tom Finney Preston Soccer Centre (STFPSC). This sponsorship is of particular significance to us because of the importance that both Sir Tom and my Grandfather attached to the support of grass roots football in the community. It was the very essence and embodiment of their respective values that each held dearly, namely that football should be accessible to all regardless of ability, social class, creed, or age.

“Supporting a wonderful initiative like the STFPSC is precisely what the Shankly Hotel is all about, family, community and being inclusive. Peter Mason, the trustees and a large team of volunteers have done truly amazing work with the charity and we are delighted to be supporting Peter with such a brilliant charity and cause. It’s also a personal honour to be working with Brian Finney to share his experiences and those of his father.

“Together with Finney family we aim to make the Shankly Hotel Preston one of the top football themed hotels and experiences in the UK creating something very unique for football fans and to continue the legacy that the National Football museum first established in Preston. For me the greatest honour will be to see the legacy of Sir Tom Finney CBE and my grandfather Bill Shankly OBE celebrated for their achievements and the values that they stood for both as gentlemen and footballers and which truly made football the beautiful game that it is today.”

Read more: New name for hotel in the Old Post Office

The Sir Tom Finney School was the brainchild of former Greater Manchester Police chief superintendent Peter Mason and his wife Kathleen.

Mr Mason said: “It is a great accolade for the charity, that a new business in Preston, one that carries the name of a football legend, has seen fit to sponsor us. The Shankly name obviously compliments Sir Tom Finney very well, given their long standing friendship, mutual respect and admiration for each others sporting achievements as footballers and icons of the game. So it is truly fitting that these two legendary names should be at the forefront of supporting grass roots community football here in Preston where it all began for them at Preston North End. We look forward to a long and successful future working with the Shankly Hotel.

“The trustees of the charity, that include Brian Finney – the son of Sir Tom Finney, are very grateful for the support that the Shankly Hotel Preston and Signature Living are providing to us, support that will allow us to secure our present provision of football coaching to the diverse communities of Preston but also to develop further new areas of provision.”