Essendon Football Club has now provided in excess of $1 million in financial support for its affiliated sporting clubs over the past six years.

Essendon’s contribution passed the $1 million mark last night when CEO Ian Robson presented the club’s affiliated sporting sections with a cheque for $121,244.
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The funds will be shared between the 10 affiliated sporting clubs – cricket, lawn bowls, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, baseball, croquet, water polo, athletics, tennis and netball.

“This is an important contribution to local sport and we understand how important grassroots sport is to the well-being of the broader community,” Robson said. 

“This is particularly relevant at a junior level. The more youth we can get engaged in sport the better as it helps combat some of the significant health issues adolescent’s face.
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“If we can help keep these sporting club’s strong so they can provide these opportunities then this is a really important contribution.”

The funding has been used by sporting clubs in a variety of ways, most notably for junior uniforms and the hiring of coaches. It has also assisted with the purchasing of equipment such as the Essendon Athletics Club’s electronic timing system. 

The affiliated clubs are producing their fair share of high quality athletes as well. Clint Mackay has represented Australia in cricket while Sarah O’Connor and Georgia Nanscawen have played hockey for Australia. The Essendon athletics clubs had six athletes selected to compete at the World Championships in Berlin this year.

“That would suggest to me we are investing in organisations that are serious about providing a quality platform for young sports men and women in Melbourne’s north west,” Robson said.