IT’s one of the most talked about football matches on the south coast for years – and a Hampshire firm is to play a part.

Freight forwarding specialist Regional Express is the ball sponsor for AFC Bournemouth’s big game against Real Madrid on Sunday.

The firm’s managing director, Eric Buggy, is a life vice-president at the Goldsands Stadium and he said it was the ideal fixture for Regional Express to support.

“We have a number of contracts with clients on the Spanish mainland and the Balearics, so the Madrid match was an obvious choice for us to be involved in,” he said.

The company’s marine manager, Stuart Chalcraft, who looks after several of the contracts in Spain, said: “We are delighted to be part of the occasion and I am sure both teams will give the supporters an evening to remember.

“It’s going to be quite a game.”

Regional Express, based on the Basepoint Business Park in Romsey, specialises in freight forwarding, along with an extensive international and UK mainland courier service for business to business solutions.

The business is only in its second year of operation and already has a projected annual turnover of £4m.