Getting To Know You: Mark Hannigan - Eagles Commercial Director

04/05/2020

in the latest 'Getting To Know You', Eagles Commercial Director Mark Hannigan discusses his role, how he got involved with the club and his favourite memory. 

Role at the club and what it entails: 

My role at the club is Commercial Director.

As I think Liam said, we only have 2 full time members of staff and me. I do 2 days a week formally and take on the commercial sponsorship side of the club along with the day to day running of “the business elements”. This is primarily the day to day book-keeping and financial management with Adam Claydon.

On top of this I support Liam with the general running of the club and the operational side of match days.

One thing I have learnt from being involved with the club is teamwork. Everyone is brilliant here. Liam, Tubbs and I work very well together to always do what’s best for the club, supported by a great board of directors who each bring a different skill to the table.

When did you become involved: 

I probably shouldn’t say this, but Tubbs and I got to know each other when I was in a different role. We did have a couple of meetings about me joining the club back in 2015/16 time, but it wasn’t right, in hindsight, for both of us.

From there I started out volunteering in 2017 when we played at Wakefield. Tubbs and Liam asked me to host the corporate lounge on matchdays which was great for me. I started to introduce my business contacts to the club and (in difficult circumstances) grow a commercial sponsor base ready for the move back to Sheffield. A lot of these sponsors are still on the kit today.

From there I got involved in the commercial side of the club and then onto the board and have never looked back. We have had some difficult and interesting time and so great times of which I know we will have many more of.

Favourite memory from the role:  

There has certainly been a few memories but the standout on has to be Wembley last year. As a director of any business, let alone a sports club, you do often get the chance to be part of that build up and to sit in the Royal Box and see your team win.

It was not solely about the day itself but the whole build-up. After we beat Batley in the Semi Final the reality really started to hit home. It was not simply a day out at Wembley for us. Off the pitch things were pretty busy, for Liam especially, not withstanding we also had league games in the run up. I remember a fair few sleepless nights at that time.

For the game at Wembley, we had a few extra sponsors on our kits (playing and warm up) for the game and a one-off after match kit. I have to say O’Neill’s were great turning it around in time!

If memory serves me, we collected the warmup tops the day before and we had some polos delivered to the hotel on the morning of the game. Being around the club, players and staff for the whole of August 2019 was an honour.

A day I will never forget.

Job outside of Rugby League: 

Outside of Rugby League I have a number of things I am involved with.

My day to day job is I own a printing company. We work with an array of businesses across the country suppling all manner of print, promotional, items, workwear and signage. On top of this we also provide full media and marketing support to businesses but print is the bulk of what we do. It is a growing business and keeps me busy! We also try and sponsor the club as well where we can. We were on the training tops last year and sponsor Brad Knowles this year.

On top of this I like to stay involved in the community. I have worked with the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust as a Trustee for over 5 years now. The trust delivers a range of socially inclusive community engagement programmes across the borough on a number of different themes. It’s a great organisation I am proud to be part of. I also volunteer as a governor at my local infants’ school.

If you could trust one Eagles player with your role, who would it be and why: 

Wow! Um…

Current players, based on the financial side of things, I would have to say Thacks given the nature of his business.

From a commercial perspective I have taken Olly Davies and Corey Makelim to a few commercial events and they have been great engaging with sponsors and business. Going back Matty Fozard was brilliant as well. Probably Fozzy would be good at the commercial side of a club.

I won’t go into who I wouldn’t…

Photo by Alex Coleman