Iona Sports Club a beneficiary of new lighting upgrades

Iona Sports Club

Iona Sports Club now has access to new lighting systems, through the Northern NSW Football Facilities Fund.

St Columbia Anglican School’s rear oval has been equipped with brand new LED lights through the partnership between NNSWF and Iona Sports Clubs. Established in 2018, Iona Sports Club caters to football, netball, basketball, and volleyball teams across various age categories, and over 75% of the teams comprise students from St Columbia Anglican School. The lighting upgrade will open up opportunities for training, and high-performance squads, and will allow matches to be played at night.

Supported by the Iona Sports Club committee, President Tony Judge and St Columbia Anglican School’s Business Manager Garry Clifton initiated plans to set up new lighting systems at the front and rear oval’s several years ago. Iona Sports Club through NNSWF Facilities Fund were successful in receiving their grant application of $43,250 in July 2019 in addition, St Columbia Anglican School matched the grant for the installation of field lights at the grounds.

Inauguration and inspection of the new lighting upgrade were done by members and representatives from Iona Sports Club, Northern NSW Football as well as council member staff and students of St Columbia School earlier this week.

Iona Sports Club Secretary Laurence Barlow spoke about the upgrades via press release:

“The lighting will allow for extended usage of the fields and enable clubs to train at night which makes participating in sport easier for families because they can train and compete after school and work and, staying active and healthy is an important part of our lifestyle in the Hastings region and we are committed to providing opportunities for our community to take part in physical activity.”

St Columbia Anglican School Campus Manager, Chris Moss added via press release:

“This season has seen a number of teams unable to host games due to wet weather and that may continue into next year. The addition of the lights will put the school in a position to transfer additional games to their fields, helping keep other clubs playing matches and, in the competition.”

Accessibility to the new lighting upgrades will enable the sporting fields to be utilised much more efficiently, during shorter winter days and also in the summer evenings.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Football Australia Announces Broadcasting Partnership with LIGR

Football Australia has unveiled a partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) to establish a world-first centralised production and distribution model for over 3,500 matches annually across multiple competition tiers.

This ambitious undertaking is set to transform sports broadcasting efficiency whilst unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations.

The collaboration comes as Football Australia prepares to kick off the Australian Championship this October.

In mid-2024, Football Australia began developing a new production strategy, defining requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football.

The strategy encompasses the Hahn Australia Cup, NSD and the top tier of Federation Competitions for both men and women (National Premier Leagues), Futsal and National Para-Football Championships included as well.

LIGR’s appointment followed a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process, led by Football Australia in alliance with Member Federations, aimed at identifying a single partner capable of managing the complex scale.

LIGR, an Australian tech business recently acquired by European-based tech company Crionet, will provide technical and operational broadcast management, live monitoring and AI integration across Football Australia’s multi and single camera productions.

Additionally, LIGR’s world-leading streaming, graphics and highlights automation platform will enable seamless integration of key sponsors on broadcasts.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad,” Johnson explained via Football Australia official press release.

“By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.

“Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid.”

Luke McCoy, CEO of LIGR, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.

“At Crionet and LIGR, our mission is to disrupt the traditional sports production, streaming, and distribution landscape,” McCoy commented via Football Australia’s official press release.

“Our partnership with Football Australia and its State and Territory Member Federations represents a groundbreaking shift towards a truly aggregated model, marking a significant milestone for sports coverage in Australia.

“Our cutting-edge technology and innovative approach sets us apart, and we are excited to elevate the game, enhance fan engagement, and drive innovation across all levels of the sport.”

This multi-tier integration represents an unprecedented approach, as no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under a single centralised model.

This new centralised approach will allow the sport to optimise its production workflows and unlock new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.

An exciting development in increasing viewership and commercial viability for, as Football Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report confirmed, the most popular and fastest growing sport in the country.

Sydney FC and Arnotts Collaboration Enhances Team Spirit

Sydney Arnotts

Sydney FC have announced an impressive partnership with iconic Australian brand, Arnotts.

The collaboration will see Arnotts’ branding feature in a highly visible location on the back of the Sydney FC Men’s team shorts for the rest of the A-League 2024/25 season.

Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey expressed how valuable the partnership was to the Sky Blues.

“We are thrilled to bring Arnott’s on board as an official partner of Sydney FC,” he said via press release.

“This is a brilliant alignment between two recognised brands that specialise in creating moments that matter.”

We also both value the importance of a high performance, high integrity environment as well as standing for equality and diversity.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a long and trusted partnership, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.”

From the collaboration, both Sydney FC and Arnotts will work on a special content series featuring the “Arnotts Moments Matter” campaign.

Arnotts Group CMO Jenni Dill highlighted how excited the organisation was for the partnership.

“This partnership builds on Arnott’s desire to support Australian’s on and off the football field with healthier and delicious lunch and snacking choices,” she said in a press release.

“Whether it’s a Vita-Weat with your favourite lunchtime toppings, or a pack of Snack Right Puffs on the way to game, we look forward to inspiring Sydney FC players and fans with more tasty and convenient ways to enjoy a snack or lunch.”

Further highlighting the importance of the brand deal, Arnotts branding will not only feature on the Sydney FC Men’s kit but will also appear on the LED screens on matchdays, presenting with Arnotts with highly desirable marketing material.

The Arnotts-Sydney FC partnership is yet another major landmark deal for the club in recent months, adding to collaborations with Guaraná Antarctica and WHEN Fertility.

 

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend