The Colchester-based TMC will be working in partnership with established specialist Sir Stanley Matthews Travel on Gray Dawes Sports, which will offer travel management services to professional teams in the UK and internationally.

Suzanne Horner, chief executive of Gray Dawes Group, said: “Our company has grown rapidly through organic sales and acquisition, concentrating on our traditional areas of business travel and corporate event management.

“We now feel the time is right for us to grow the sports arm of our company. This latest chapter in our development marks a significant boost to our service offering.

“Each team and sport hold a completely unique set of requirements. Experience is everything and I’m confident that the team we’ve hand-picked to run Gray Dawes Sports will deliver a truly expert and unique experience for each and every client.”

Matthew Gough, managing director of Sir Stanley Matthews Travel, added: “Just like Sir Stanley Matthews himself, we know that getting the small things right can make the biggest difference.”