YORK City Knights have a new main sponsor for the 2013 season – former York City backers Pryers Solicitors.

The deal is the biggest single sponsorship agreement in the Championship club’s history and will see the Pryers company logo on the front of the Knights’ playing shirts, plus other branding in and around their Huntington Stadium home.

Neither the club nor the company have revealed the sums involved but The Press understands it is a five-figure deal and a significant boost in the Knights’ bid to build a team to climb the Championship standings.

Pryers sponsored neigbours City for three years, though their arrangement at Bootham Crescent ended this summer following the club’s Wembley double and promotion back into the Football League.

The law firm had been introduced to the Minstermen by the then City commercial manager Ross Potter, who joined the Knights in a similar capacity in April and likewise brokered this deal.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson was delighted with the new agreement.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Pryers Solicitors as main sponsor of the club. They are a prominent York-based firm and it is fantastic to see them backing local professional sport.”Headed by Ian Pryer, the founding member and senior partner in the law practice, Pryers Solicitors, established in 2002, work for claimants suffering from personal injury or clinical negligence. The company is based in York but has clients all over the country.

Wilson added: “I would personally like to thank Ian Pryer and his partners for their support and hope that this can be the start of a long and successful partnership.”

Pryer said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Knights and hope that it will be the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship.”

The Knights have several other associate kit sponsors on board for 2013, including RKS Roofing, York Pullman, Monkbar Model Shop, Castles UK, Pavers, Adreamclean, Shepherd Group, James Burrells Builders Merchants, Miller Accounting Services and All Design & Print.

The Knights’ new strip for 2013, with the Pryers logo emblazened across the front, is currently being manufactured.

Knights fans will be able to get their hands on 2013 replica shirts at the club’s annual season launch night, which will take place on Thursday, November 29 in Bar 13 at Huntington Stadium.

• Sheffield Eagles have confirmed the recruitment of Knights prop Liam Ellis. The 17-year-old Wakefield College student became the Knights’ youngest-ever player when turning out in the last three games of this season.

However, The Press revealed last month he was to move to the new Championship champions as they are one of few clubs outside Super League to afford an U19s academy next year.

Eagles development manager Darren Higgins said: “The fact we run a team in the Super League Academy competition was the deciding factor.”