Why is club sport important?

Regardless of what sport you play, to be associated with a club helps build relationships and provides a sense of belonging to the community. It also helps with physical and mental health especially in recent times.

Other than providing funds to clubs - what other benefits do sponsorship arrangements provide?

For so many years now clubs have relied on support and the generosity of companies for their support. However, I see this as a two way street and can see how the clubs can now support businesses and push their brand out to the wider public to show what these companies are about and push foot traffic through their doors.

Why is helping clubs gain sponsorships and funding important you?

In my experience, I have seen clubs get smaller and smaller, and drop teams and then eventually the club becomes no more. By gaining sponsors the club can grow and support it’s youth, this will in turn attract and retain players which attracts more players which then helps the club being successful and viable for years to come.

What benefit do sponsors get from providing funding and support to clubs?

There are many ways to display a sponsor's brand in a club. This may be from a simple “Player of the Match Award”, a brand of fruit drink they sell at the canteen to their brand on a players playing strip. All these and everything in between prompts the sponsor's brand. This in turn makes not necessarily just the home team but also the away team more aware of the sponsors brand and associates with being local in the community.

How long have you been helping organisations with fundraising?

Having played sports from a young age and moving from state to state, I never really realised the efforts of others behind the scenes. From field set up and pack down. To cooking BBQ’s serving in the canteen to ordering stock. But when I came to the end of my playing career I realised that it was my turn to say thank you to the clubs that supported me. So instead of standing on the sidelines watching I wanted to be a part of a club and took up a sponsorship role. I had no idea of what to do or how to do it, but over the past 10 years or so I’ve learnt and watched the ups and downs of sponsorship and what can be achieved for all clubs with a little guidance and support.

What are the most common mistakes clubs make when it comes to fund raising?

The biggest thing that a club relies on is volunteers. And as much as each individual wants to help, there is really no clear guidance on how to go about not only getting a sponsor but also building a relationship with them so the sponsor sees the real benefit of being part of their club and continues to sponsor the club for years to come.

If you could give once piece of advice to sporting clubs when it comes to fund raising what would it be?

You need to look at a sponsor as if it was your business. Would you be happy with the amount of support that you’re providing for that sponsor and support the club next year? And if the answer is no, then you need to start thinking outside the box.