Longwell Green-based company N-Gaged became the proud shirt sponsors of Bristol Rovers' home shirts next season after a unique raffle at the Memorial Ground.

Second place went to city centre intellectual property law firm Stevens Hewlett and Perkins while online guitar seller Guitarbitz.com took third.

N-Gaged bought six, £1,000 tickets for the draw – more than any other business taking part – to give themselves a better chance of taking the top prize.

The training and recruitment company already has close links with the club. Secretary Antoni Watola is Bristol Rovers' director of finance and director Geoff Dunford is a former chairman of the club and still sits on the board.

Bristol Rovers struck upon the idea of the raffle after failing to gain sufficient sponsorship because of the current financial climate.

The club gave companies the opportunity of sponsoring the kit by buying raffle tickets at £1,000 each. The club sold 96 tickets in all, raising £96,000.

The winner gets their name and logo on the front of the club's home kit. Second prize was sponsorship of the away shirts and third was an advertising hoarding worth £2,500.

All businesses entering the raffle, organised by Rovers stadium manager Ian Holtby, get a table in hospitality at a game, a signed football and a picture of their representatives with the squad.

Bristol-based comedian Eddie Large pulled the lucky winners out of a velvet bag yesterday as a favour to friend and Bristol Rovers director Barry Bradshaw.

Managing director of N-Gaged, Simon Arnold, said: "We are a new business that provides training in the logistics industry in partnership with Filton College. We were made aware that this opportunity was available and Ian Holtby talked us into taking part. We are now obviously very pleased that he did.

"Being a new company there was no way we could have considered being the new shirt sponsor as a one-off payment but this draw made it possible."

Trademark attorney Jon Welfoot from Stevens Hewlett and Perkins, which employs about 60 people, said: "We heard of the promotion and as a lot of people who work with us are Rovers fans, we thought the opportunity to support the team was fantastic.

"This exposure is going to increase our profile enormously. The media interest has been huge because of the unique nature of the scheme.

"We value business in the local community extremely highly and wanted to give something back. I am looking forward to seeing people walking through Bristol with our name on their shirts."

James Oliver, director of Guitarbitz, said: "I have always been a Rovers fan and saw the scheme on the Post website and decided we should have a go.

"The hoarding is at the ground so there are thousands who will potentially see it and if a game is aired from there and there has been plenty of coverage in the local newspapers, it all helps when you are running a business. It was a grand well spent."

Mr Holtby, who organised the raffle, said: "It has been three weeks of hard graft.

"This has been beyond our wildest dreams – the response both from the local shops to the major companies has been fantastic."

Manchester City fan Large said: "I think it was a brilliant idea. I wouldn't be surprised if other clubs tried it as well now. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about doing it because at least 90 people in the room were going to hate me but I suppose at least there are three who love me."

KN Office Supplies from St George was the winner of a Post competition to win an entry in Rovers' draw paid for by the paper.

Sales executive Nick Elston said: "We may not have won but we will enjoy a table at the club on matchday without paying a penny. It was a wonderful opportunity that was only available to us because of the Evening Post."