Essendon today announced that Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner is the club's new No.1 ticketholder.

He replaces QANTAS chairman Leigh Clifford who has held the role since March 2008. The position of No.1 ticketholder is rotated and involves hosting a community fundraising dinner and a business networking lunch, among a number of other duties.

Mr Tanner has supported the Bombers for nearly 50-years and says he is honored to accept the position.

""I came to Melbourne from the country at 17 to go to University and deliberately moved into a house in Moonee Ponds so I was walking distance from Windy Hill,"" he said.

""I used to go and watch training on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the reserves game before the seniors.

""I'm enormously proud of Essendon's contribution to the community and absolutely delighted to be appointed No.1 ticket-holder. I'm keen to assist the club in its off-field work in whatever way I can.

""I started supporting the Bombers when I was six years old, and my passion is just as fierce 47 years on.""

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Essendon chairman Ray Horsburgh said the club was lucky to have a personwith such vastgovernment experience take up the position.

“Lindsay is a key member of the Federal Government and is highly respected in the business community. He can add greatly to the club in this role and has offered to support our community programs and assist in building our business networks,""he said.

Mr Horsburgh also thanked Mr Clifford for his hard work and dedication to the club.

“Leigh has been an excellent ambassador for this football club and we appreciate his service,"" he said.

""He will continue to be an important part of this club and we look forward to seeing him at the football next season and beyond.”
 
Click here to watch the Essendon players practice their routine for The Footy Show Grand Final episode. 
 
Background information on Lindsay Tanner:

Lindsay has been a member of the ALP for more than 30 years. He was first elected to the Australian Parliament in March 1993. Over the years, Lindsay has held a variety of Shadow Ministerial positions in portfolios including Consumer Affairs; Communications; Community Relations; and Finance.

Prior to entering Parliament, Lindsay worked for the Victorian Branch of the Federated Clerks Unions as Assistant Secretary and then State Secretary before becoming the Federal Member for Melbourne. He also practiced as a solicitor for Holding Redlich for a number of years.

Lindsay has lived in Melbourne for more than 35 years and has always been an active member of the communities in which he has lived. For many years, Lindsay played cricket and football for local clubs and worked as a volunteer at Melbourne legal services.

Lindsay is committed to social justice and regularly participates in a range of forums on social issues. He is an accomplished author and has written a number of articles and books on social, economic and labour issues. Lindsay currently writes a weekly blog featured on the National Times website.

Lindsay’s lives in Alphington with his wife Andrea and two daughters, Ainsley and Remy, who are Essendon supporters as well. Lindsay also has a daughter, Jemma and a son, James from a previous marriage.