Ten thousand footballs have flooded Northern NSW ready for season kick-off on Saturday 28 April.
The footballs are provided annually by Newcastle Permanent, Northern NSW Football’s (NNSWF) official Community Football partner to entry-level players aged seven and under, to help kick-start their season.
The free balls complement the overall affordability of the game for new players, along with low registration fees and the NSW Government’s Active Kids voucher which was introduced this year.
In addition to providing free footballs to entry-level players, Newcastle Permanent has assisted community clubs by providing essential identification vests for volunteers, duty officers and match officials, and new field signage.
NNSWF CEO David Eland said, “as a major partner Newcastle Permanent allows us to keep player registration fees as low as possible, which is a major drawcard for parents looking for an affordable, fun and safe sport for their children.
“With the profile of the game growing nationally and internationally, particularly with both our national teams qualifying for upcoming World Cups, player numbers continue to increase and we anticipate that with the continued affordability of football we can look forward to further growth in 2018,” Eland said.
Newcastle Permanent CEO Terry Millett said it is built into Newcastle Permanent’s ethos to support the communities in which it operates.
“Football is a great example of an inclusive sport which almost anyone can take part in, it is important for us to support activities which encourage kids and their families to lead active, healthy lives.”
About NNSWF’s Community Partnership with Newcastle Permanent:
Newcastle Permanent is the major partner of Community Football across Northern NSW and has partnered with NNSWF since 2008 to help promote football across the region.
Newcastle Permanent’s investment in football is one of its most important community partnerships and reflects the financial institution’s commitment to supporting the local community.
Integral to the Newcastle Permanent Community Football partnership is recognition of volunteers, coaches, referees and others on the ground who play a vital role in delivering the game across Northern NSW.
The Community Partnership with Newcastle Permanent includes recognition programs such as Newcastle Permanent Volunteer of the Month, Newcastle Permanent Community Coach of the Month, Newcastle Permanent Community Club of the Year, training tools for community coaches and volunteers, as well as the distribution of more than 9,000 free footballs to young players each year.
