South Australian junior football receives boost in season 2012

South Australian football has been given a major boost with the announcement today that McDonald’s (SA) will continue its sponsorship of junior football in 2012.
 
McDonald’s South Australia and the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) have joined forces again in 2012 with the aim of increasing football participation among young people beyond 150,000 across the state.
 
The announcement has been made to time with the start of the Junior District Leagues (JDLs) season on April 15, which forms part of the sponsorship agreement between McDonald’s (SA) and the SANFL.
 
This year, McDonald’s (SA) has increased its level of support to JDLs with the supply of Footy Packs to all clubs, which contain training bibs and boot bags for each player. The packs are being delivered by McDonald’s restaurants across the State to their local clubs this week.
 
In addition, McDonald’s (SA) is funding a series of 5 x $1000 JDL Equipment Grants for the clubs through a Macca’s Team Player of the Week Award which has been designed to promote good sportsmanship among young players.
 
In 2012, the partnership will see McDonald’s as the major sponsor and supporter of all SANFL junior football competitions in South Australia, including the SANFL elite Under 18s competition, which will again be known as the Macca’s Cup.
 
The partnership also includes:

• Principal sponsor of the McDonald’s U18s State Team
• Principal sponsor of the McDonald’s U16s State Team
• Principal sponsor of the U16s competition (to be known as Macca’s U16s Talent Shield)
• Macca’s Promotional Clinics
• Macca’s School Holiday Clinics
• Macca’s Juniors Premiers Cup
• Macca’s Saturday Morning Football (SASFA or SA School Football Association)
• Macca’s Nine-A-Side
• Macca’s intra-school program
• Macca’s Junior District Leagues

McDonald’s licensee representative in South Australia, Mark Dutschke said the partnership was an ideal fit for both organisations.
 
“We’ve made a significant investment in junior Australian Rules football over the last three years and we are committed to supporting it again this year,” he said.
 
“Our partnership with the SANFL fits perfectly with our commitment to promoting junior sport and encouraging young people to be active.
 
“The partnership is about growing the game of AFL at a grass-roots level, improving the skills of kids who play football in SA and supporting our stars of the future.”
 
Mr Dutschke said the partnership would also benefit Aussie Rules competitions and leagues in regional South Australia, with clinics and other activities that encouraged more young people to participate in the sport.
 
SANFL Corporate Partnerships Manager Mark Lukowicz welcomed McDonald’s ongoing commitment.
 
“The support of McDonald’s plays an important part in the SANFL’s mission to grow the game in South Australia at all levels.
 
“With South Australia already boasting the highest per-capita footy participation rate in the nation, this partnership allows us to provide even more opportunities for the next generation of local children to participate in football and lead active lifestyles.”

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS

Please contact Simon Hatcher on (08) 8412 4100 or simon@hughespr.com.au.