HBA & Sydney Football Club Kick Off a Major New Partnership

(PRWEB) September 10, 2007 -- Sydney FC and leading health insurer HBA (http://www.hba.com.au) 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 (http://www.hba.com.au/public_insurance_sales/vic/content/Lifetime_Health_Cover.htm) 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 (http://www.intofootball.com.au/HBAGRANT.aspx) at www.intofootball.com.au (http://www.intofootball.com.au).

Applications for the equipment grants opened on August 1, 2007.

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