Essendon Football Club has provided a timely Christmas gift to 11 local sporting clubs.

The Windy Hill Venue handed over $166,000 to the clubs to spend on equipment and upgrades to their facilities.

The latest donations bring the venue’s contribution to those clubs over the last two years to more than $300,000. 

Windy Hill Venue General Manager Alan Burton, said the club was proud to be in a position to support a variety of sporting clubs at grassroots level. 

The Essendon Hockey Club will use the money to install a veranda outside its canteen.  New gates and fences will be established for the Essendon Tennis Club and the Essendon Rowing Club will use the money to purchase four sets of sculling oars. 

Kevin Sheedy was there as the donations were presented and volunteers were recognised for the contribution they make to their local clubs.

“The Club plans on presenting these awards annually to thank people for the contribution they make to local sport,” he said. 

“It really is a fantastic initiative by the Club.”