Gold Coast Football Club (GCFC) CEO Travis Auld says he was delighted by the Northern Rivers response to the club’s inaugural Telstra 2010 AFL Community Camp.

“From the moment the team arrived in Lismore on Monday to the time the bus rolled out of Pottsville last night we were greeted very warmly,” he said.

“We are incredibly thankful to everyone who made such an effort. We are looking forward to developing a very strong supporter base in the region. Our club can take great comfort that we will definitely be on the region’s sporting radar as we move towards our AFL debut in 2011.”

The camp, held over 8 and 9 February, saw the club conduct open fitness and skills sessions in Lismore and Ballina. After training, members of the playing group visited close to 10,000 students in 30 schools and junior clubs across the entire region to carry out football clinics and meet and greet local children and parents.

Camp organiser, GCFC Community Officer Corey Bell, said attending players and staffers were ecstatic with the reception they received.

“We were fortunate enough over the two days to enjoy fantastic facilities and meet some great people. The strength and spirit of grassroots AFL football in the region was very evident.

“One of the highlights was a forum style based Community Camp dinner at Ballina’s Ramada Hotel on Monday night. The dinner was planned to coincide with the ten year anniversary celebrations of Junior AFL within the Northern Rivers region.

The dinner helped raise in excess of $2500 for the Northern Rivers Junior AFL league which will benefit the Community and its local clubs.