Melbourne Heart FC has confirmed its commitment to Victoria’s grassroots football community after the Club announced Bendigo will host the final leg of the 2010 Westpac Community Football Festival.
Melbourne Heart FC has confirmed its commitment to Victoria-s grassroots football community after the Club announced Bendigo will host the final leg of the 2010 Westpac Community Football Festival.
The Club will arrive in Central Victoria on July 20 for the start of the three-day football festival, which will see Heart engage with the local football and business community through a series of clinics and events, courtesy of Westpac-s local network of branches.
Westpac-s ‘Coach the Coach- program is set to be one of the highlights of the festival, with Heart Head Coach John van ‘t Schip and Assistants Jesper Olsen and Ante Milicic holding a seminar educating local football clubs on the latest tactical and technical innovations in the game.
The inaugural Westpac Community Football Festival culminates in a friendly match between Heart and Victorian Champions League side Loddon Mallee Lightning FC at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve on Thursday July 22.
Heart Chief Executive Officer Scott Munn revealed the Club is excited to be bringing the Hyundai A-League to Bendigo for an extended period.
“While the Club remains very much in its infancy, we remain vigilant in the belief that it is incumbent upon us as an elite level organisation to further the cause of football throughout the state and inspire the next generation of Victorians,” he said.
“Due to Westpac-s commitment and drive, the Club is delighted to extend a hand and support Bendigo-s local football community through the festival, which we hope will help boost the sport-s grassroots profile in central Victoria.
“The match against Loddon Mallee Lightning FC will be one of our final hit outs before the start of the Hyundai A-League season, and as a result, will take on greatly added importance.”
Westpac’s Regional General Manager for Central Victoria who resides in Bendigo, Paul O’Regan, said: “We are really excited to be able to help bring Melbourne Heart and elite football to the Bendigo and greater Central regional area community.
“This will further evidence the commitment Westpac made some 12 months ago to improve our support of community activity which has included associations with numerous local community groups coupled with free education seminars.
“One of the reasons Westpac partnered with the Melbourne Heart is their focus on taking football to regional communities. The Central Region Football festival will, be held over three days which will include players visiting and coaching local schools and clubs, as well as hosting some charity events and then a main game against a local representative team.”
