Gold Coast surf champion and Gladiator Hayley Bateup has become an honorary member of the Gold Coast Football Club.

Bateup met the players at a training session at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara, and received her inaugural membership to the Club.

The three time Coolangatta Gold winner knows what it takes to become a champion and will be cheering for the GCFC this year as it embarks on its TAC Cup campaign.

Bateup will also attend some of the games at Carrara and is looking forward to the first AFL clash between Carlton and Fremantle on May 9. Inaugural memberships to the Gold Coast Football Club are now available for supporters.

With the historic announcement that the Gold Coast has been granted a licence to compete in the AFL from 2011, the momentum and expectation is growing.

The Gold Coast Football Club’s pathway ensures that in a few years it will become a community owned, membership based sporting club.

Now is the time to join and say you were there from the beginning.

There are three main Membership packages to choose from – Platinum, Premium and Bronze - all giving you access to the three Toyota AFL Premiership Matches being held at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara, this year.  

The GCFC TAC Cup team will play curtain raisers at these matches. (Carlton v Fremantle May 9; St Kilda v Melbourne May 30;  Richmond v Adelaide July 4).

‘Club Membership’ are also available which is perfect for those who want to support the Gold Coast Football Club but cannot make it to the matches.

Call the customer service centre on 1300 661 933 for more information or visit the membership section on the website.

After a crushing first victory against the Western Jets, GCFC have a bye this weekend and will travel to Melbourne for its next game against Tasmania at the MCG on Sunday April 26 at 2.10pm.