TOWN and the Yorkshire Building Society have strengthened links in a move to benefit the football club's youth academy.

The building society, which has its roots in Huddersfield, become the club's official "affinity" partner at the start of this season - with the society's name featured on the famous blue and white shirts.

Under a new agreement, Town's youth development academy continues to receive a dividend equal to 1% of the average savings balances held by investors in the affinity account.

Last year, almost £100,000 was donated to the academy. The total is set to rise to about £120,000 by the end of the season.

Town chief executive Andrew Watson said: "Our youth academy has proved to be invaluable to the club. Currently, 13 of our 25 first team players came through the academy - and who can forget Jon Stead, a former academy boy, who achieved his Premier League ambition and earned the club a sizeable transfer fee."

The Bradford-based building society will pay a further dividend directly to the club, based on the volume of other business generated for the society by Town fans.

Mr Watson said Town's goal was to be a top 30 English football club by its centenary year in 2008.

"We're well on our way to achieving this and a big sponsorship payment at the end of the year could secure our success," he said.