With their big yellow vans and chess piece logo, Bishop’s Move are a firm fans of the game can’t fail to recognise.

So it is with great pleasure that the club can announce it has entered into a partnership with Britain’s largest, and most familiar, family-owned removals and storage company.

Bishop’s Move has agreed to sponsor Battersea for the 2017/2018 season and support us in our quest for glory.

Bishop's Move, the removals firm, have very kindly sponsored us
Bishop’s Move, the removals firm, have very kindly sponsored us

“Bishop’s Move have been very generous and their support will help the keep us afloat for a long time, and for that we are very grateful,” said club secretary Leon Watson.

“We run eight teams and need the use of our venue every Tuesday to keep going – without the BLC we’d be lost and this puts considerable strain on us to pay for it.

Bishop's Move vans in the 1950s at their old Clapham Garage built on the Clapham High School for Girls site
Bishop’s Move vans in the 1950s at their old Clapham Garage built on the Clapham High School for Girls site

“But thanks to Bishop’s Move we hope there’ll be no need for us to pack our bags any time soon.”

In fact, it turns out Bishop’s Move has more than a passing connection to us – the firm was once headquartered in our manor, in Stewart’s Road from the 1980s to 2004.

“We wish Battersea Chess Club all the best and couldn’t have been happier to help,” Neil Bishop, the chairman of the family-run firm, said.

A Bishop's Move van pictured in 1910
A Bishop’s Move van pictured in 1910

“It was a great opportunity for the company not only as of the chess connection but also as Bishop’s Move was established in 1854 in the same area of London.”

Bishop’s Move started life in 1854 as a furniture haulage company based in a small yard in Pimlico operating with horse drawn carts.

The business is now an international removals and storage company providing moving house, business relocation, international shipping and storage from its network of branches across the UK, and Europe.