Heidelberg United’s extends partnership with Prime Plastic Bags

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Heidelberg United Alexander FC / Facebook

Heidelberg United and Prime Plastic Bags have announced their partnership has been extended for the 2026 season, displaying once again the commitment and hard work of both parties to support endeavours on the pitch and in the community. 

Longstanding grassroots support 

With the partnership’s roots going all the way back to 2012 and showing no signs of stopping, the recent announcement reflects how a commercial partner can grow to become an essential element of a club’s support system. 

“We would like to sincerely acknowledge the continued support of Prime Plastic Bags, a steadfast partner at the home of Heidelberg United FC. Their ongoing commitment plays a vital role in helping us achieve and grow our vision, both on and off the field,” the club said via a social media announcement on Tuesday. 

It is clear that Heidelberg’s ambition moving forward will be to encourage even more success and silverware in the coming seasons, a vision made possible with the backing of its partners. With Heidelberg’s men’s team winning the Victoria Championship last season, and the women’s team achieving back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, the club is proving that excellence and dedication off the pitch invariably leads to sporting prowess on it. 

Yet what remains alongside Heidelberg United’s ambitions and objectives for both the men’s, women’s and junior teams, is the consistent and steadfast backing of Prime Plastic Bags. And having been with the club throughout its rise up the NPL table, it is clear that their work with Heidelberg United holds a unique formula for success. 

 

Ambitious objectives, steadfast partners 

Managing Director at Prime Plastic Bags and Director at Heidelberg United, Bill Pargas, spoke to Soccerscene about the recent announcement and about the partnership’s success throughout the last 13 years.

“We’ve had a partnership now for over 12 years. I believe in what the club is doing not only on the field but also [regarding] building purposes. We’re developing, we’re progressing the landscape of the club,” Pargas said. He also explained that the club’s projects are not merely about achieving short-term success, but about building sustainably for the future by investing in junior teams and club infrastructure.

“We’ve long supported clubs and entities that look forward to junior progression and senior success, along with women’s development,” Pargas continued.      

While their collaborative efforts have already seen impressive achievements in recent seasons, it remains important to both parties that working together can lead to constant development. As a hugely ambitious club looking to defend their Victoria Championship crown this season, it is no wonder why Heidelberg United were eager to continue working with Prime Plastic Bags. 

  

More than a commercial partner

Since its beginnings in 1958, Heidelberg United has been an essential part of the local community and of Victoria’s football landscape. With thousands of loyal supporters and club members backing the team with each passing season, establishing and sustaining connections off the pitch become all the more valuable. 

Such connections are deeply rooted within the club, embodied by leaders like Pargas who balance industry experience with a love for the game. Discussing why Prime Plastic Bags continues to support Heidelberg United and grassroots football, he revealed that being a fan of Heidelberg was a major influence on his continued desire to help the club.

“I’ve always been a fan of the club. I’ve always been a fan of Heidelberg going back to the NSL days, watching the likes of Gary Cole play for the club. I was able to sponsor and help out and that’s what we decided to do. We’re helping out our club,” Pargas said. 

This is why commercial partnerships can – and should – represent far more than short-term financial endeavours. As connections are solidified with local businesses and supporters, clubs gain the backing and guidance they need to withstand the inevitable challenges of climbing the football pyramid. In this way, commercial partners can transform into vital components of a club’s inner workings and identity. 

 

Final thoughts

While Heidelberg United continue their pre-season preparations, fans, coaches and players alike will be anticipating another trail-blazing year on and off the pitch. With plans to continue developing the junior teams and club infrastructure for current and future players, 2026 promises to be another exciting year for Heidelberg United.

And although results in football are never guaranteed, The Bergers’ fanbase can be safe in the knowledge that their beloved club has the backing of loyal partners like Prime Plastic Bags, helping them reach new heights in the NPL Victoria. 

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Bentleigh Greens and Metricon Bring Local Business Community Together Through Networking Initiative

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Image Credit: One-Nil Media

Bentleigh Greens FC has reinforced its commitment to supporting its community beyond football, partnering with Metricon Homes to host a business networking evening designed to strengthen relationships between local businesses, sponsors and club stakeholders.

 

A unique setting for meaningful connections

Held inside one of Metricon’s display homes, the Bentleigh Greens Business Networking Night welcomed around 60 local business owners, club partners and community leaders for an evening focused on connection, collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Rather than a traditional function space, Metricon opened the doors of one of its display homes, creating a unique networking environment that highlighted how the space could be transformed into a premium venue while providing guests with a relaxed setting to build professional relationships.

The event reflects a growing trend across community football, where clubs are increasingly positioning themselves as platforms for business engagement and local economic development, alongside their role in delivering participation opportunities on the pitch.

Guests also heard from strategic futurist Marcus Barber, who delivered a presentation examining the growing influence of artificial intelligence on modern business. His insights encouraged attendees to consider how emerging technologies are reshaping industries and the importance of preparing for future change.

 

Creating value beyond sponsorship

While commercial outcomes were never the primary objective, the evening was designed to create long-term value by fostering meaningful relationships between businesses connected to the Bentleigh Greens community.

Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with several attendees already establishing new contacts and beginning discussions around potential collaborations.

The initiative also highlights Metricon’s broader commitment to supporting local communities beyond residential construction. By partnering with Bentleigh Greens and providing the venue, the company helped facilitate an event that encouraged learning, networking and stronger community connections.

 

Football clubs as community business hubs

For community football clubs, initiatives such as these demonstrate how partnerships can extend beyond traditional sponsorship models. By creating opportunities for local businesses to engage with one another, clubs can strengthen their commercial networks while delivering tangible value to sponsors and the wider community.

As football clubs continue to explore new ways of engaging stakeholders off the field, events like the Bentleigh Greens Business Networking Night illustrate how sport can serve as a catalyst for meaningful business relationships and long-term community growth.

Football NSW builds life‑saving network as cardiac safety push expands

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has distributed 20 defibrillators to associations and regional clubs through its Every Beat Matters campaign, part of a broader push to improve cardiac emergency preparedness across the state’s football network.

Sixteen of the devices were presented to participating associations at the inaugural Football NSW Association Championships in Mudgee. A further four went to regional clubs: Cowra and District Soccer Club, Westside Panthers, Yerrinbool Bargo Soccer Club and Narooma Football Club.

The rollout builds on the Heartbeat of Sport AED Mapping Project, which is mapping defibrillator placement at sporting facilities across NSW with funding from the Minns Labor Government. Twelve football associations have joined the effort, including Eastern Suburbs, Manly Warringah, Granville, Southern Districts, Nepean, Northern Suburbs, Football Canterbury, Bankstown, Hills, Sutherland Shire, North West Sydney Football and Football South Coast.

Data collected through the mapping project is being fed into NSW Ambulance’s GoodSAM emergency response system and NSW Health’s public AED map, enabling first responders to locate nearby defibrillators in real time.

The initiative responds to a gap that had gone largely unexamined. More than 2,400 defibrillators have been deployed across NSW sports facilities through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $3,000 to eligible organisations. But a device not registered in emergency response systems provides significantly less value than one that is accurately mapped and immediately locatable.

The urgency is not abstract. At Doyalson Wyee Football Club, a 70‑year‑old player survived a sudden on‑field cardiac arrest because an AED was available on site. Survival rates drop by about 10 per cent for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is also establishing a long‑term defibrillator register to track equipment distribution, access and maintenance across all 636 clubs and 31 associations. The Every Beat Matters campaign, supported by Toyota and St John Ambulance, aims to raise about $240,000 through a raffle to fund an initial rollout of 65 defibrillators to clubs currently without access, prioritising regional and lower socio‑economic areas.

The #HeartHealthMatters Program is delivering CPR and AED familiarisation training to sporting organisations, with a particular focus on regional communities where ambulance response times are often longer and volunteer bases smaller.

The ambition, in the words of project organisers, is straightforward: that no preventable death occurs on a football ground because the right equipment was not there, or could not be found.

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