The Gold Coast Football Club and the Southport Australian Football Club have launched a unique Patron Partnership program to support the new AFL Club on its journey to AFL.

The 12-year Patron Partnership program includes a major financial contribution and continues the evolution of Australian Rules Football in the region and acknowledges the strong community support that exists on the Gold Coast for AFL football.

The Patron Partnership is a unique support program for a sporting Club and provides the Gold Coast Football Club with the financial support, backing and experience of the Gold Coast AFL community as it prepares for AFL football in 2011.

Gold Coast Football Club CEO Travis Auld said the Southport Sharks have enhanced the game through a long history of success and a determined desire to grow and develop Australian Rules football in Queensland.

“As a result the local AFL football community is strong and healthy, an envious position, which had a significant impact on the AFL Commission’s decision to award the 17th AFL licence to the Gold Coast in March 2009,” he said.

“Australian Rules football on the Gold Coast will celebrate 50 years next year and Southport have been there from the beginning which is a tremendous achievement.”

For the Gold Coast Football Club the Patron Partnership:

  • Acknowledges the well established and strong community support from the Gold Coast for AFL Football;
  • Continues a determined desire to grow and develop the game on the Gold Coast;
  • Provides the financial support, backing and experience of a key Australian Rules club in the local community during GCFC’s crucial development phase; and,
  • Sets a clear benchmark for establishing community and development programs.

For the Southport Sharks the Patron Partnership:

  • Acknowledges the significant contribution the Sharks have made to the game in Queensland and the groundwork done on behalf of the Gold Coast community to obtain an AFL licence for the Gold Coast;
  • Fulfils the Southport Sharks mission to promote and foster the development of Australian Rules Football;
  • Continues the evolution of Australian Rules Football in the region; and,
  • Extends the contribution of Southport’s history of success and leadership in the Queensland Australian Rules Football community.

Southport President Dr Alan Mackenzie said the Sharks through its commitment to AFL in the region wanted to assist by providing confidence and surety around the establishment of the 17th AFL Club during its formative years.

“Our Patron Partnership is a unique partnership that is beyond a typical financial arrangement. We believe there are many in the local community that have already laid the foundations for the club’s success and this is an extension of that support for the development of AFL football on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The Gold Coast Football Club has been many years in the making and on behalf of all AFL community and clubs on the Gold Coast we wanted to help make it a success both on and off the field.”