Media Release
Wednesday 18 July 2007
Sydney FC and HBA kick off major new partnership
Sydney FC and leading health insurer HBA today launched a three-year partnership
supporting coaching clinics, equipment grants and encouraging children to become active
through participation in sport.
The HBA and Sydney FC Community Football Program aims to get New South Wales
children involved in sport through coaching clinics, chances to win tickets to Sydney FC
matches and opportunities to play in half-time little-league games.
Sydney FC mascots ‘Syd’ and ‘Sydnee’, plus HBA junior football mascot ‘Bluey’ joined
Sydney FC coach Branko Culina and four of the club's star players - Mark Rudan, Robbie
Middleby, Terry McFlynn and Adam Casey - at Lindfield Public School to make kids aware of
the health benefits of playing sport.
To kick off the partnership, which includes Sydney FC back-of-shirt sponsorship for the next
three Hyundai A-League seasons, HBA will establish the HBA INTOFOOTBALL Grants.
Giving NSW's junior football clubs and schools an opportunity to obtain the equipment they
need for children to play sport.
HBA managing director Richard Bowden said that a healthy lifestyle begins at a young age
and that HBA's partnership with Sydney FC aims to get children up and active.
"The program is all about creating opportunities for kids to increase their activity levels,
develop new skills, boost their confidence and, above all else, have fun playing football," said
Bowden.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for the entire NSW community to get involved in an exciting
initiative that will reach more than 10,000 primary school children each year. With HBA's
INTOFOOTBALL Grants, clubs and schools can apply for the equipment they need to
conduct fun and healthy football programs for kids," Bowden added.
Sydney FC chief executive officer George Perry said that the club and HBA are natural
bedfellows.
"It's great for Sydney FC to be associated with HBA as the two organisations share a
common goal in promoting healthy lifestyles," said Perry.
"Engaging with the community is Sydney FC's primary off-the-field objective and the HBA
partnership will help the club to realise its goals," Perry added.
The HBA and Sydney FC Community Football Program includes:
- Primary schools - Sydney FC players and coaches conducting training sessions with more than 10,000 NSW children over the course of a calendar year
- Local associations - Sydney FC players and coaches visiting junior football teams in the NSW leagues, with players acting as association ambassadors
- Holiday clinics - Sydney FC players and coaches running four-day programs during school holidays, with NSW kids learning from the sport's elite
NSW’s junior football clubs and schools can apply for HBA INTOFOOTBALL Grants at
www.INTOFOOTBALL.com.au
Applications for the equipment grants open on August 1, 2007.
| For more information please contact: |
Julian Murphy |
