Hyundai and Newcastle Jet Kick Goals for Football in Garden Suburb

CLAYTON, Australia, December 4, 2008: On the 30th November, 2008, Garden Suburb Junior Soccer Club accepted a cheque from Hyundai Motor Company Australia, after being selected by the Newcastle Jets as the beneficiary of the Hyundai‘Goals for Grassroots’ program.

Already a proud supporter and sponsor of the Socceroos and naming rights sponsor of the Hyundai A-League, Hyundai is committed to investing in grassroots football within local communities around Australia through its ‘Goals for Grassroots’ program.

For round 13 of the ‘Goals for Grassroots’ program, Newcastle Jets and Hyundai nominated the Garden Suburb Junior Soccer Club. Newcastle Jets scored a late goal to lead 1-0 in their game against Adelaide United however Adelaide United scored a goal in injury time to equalise 1-1; however the Garden Suburb Junior Soccer Club received a $2,000 donation from Hyundai.

Marten Kollen of Garden Suburb Junior Soccer Club commented “Our grassroots juniors will benefit greatly from these funds in many ways - from more educated coaches along with equipment to assist these coaches to mirror the valuable training they will receive, in some cases this will allow our existing coaches to progress from grassroots training to a Junior License which will offer our young players even more exposure to quality coaching.”

“These clubs and their members are part of the future for football in Australia and the Hyundai ‘Goals for Grassroots’ program is a great way to ensure that the future is being cared for even in our rural communities” said Matt Thompson, Newcastle Jets goal scorer.

One home game per round of the 2008/09 Hyundai A-League Season has been selected to be part of the ‘Goals for Grassroots’ program. To be considered for a donation ahead of each home match, local football clubs should complete an application on-line at www.ilovefootball.com.au and submit why their club should receive support.

Grassroots clubs selected will benefit from an initial $1,000 donation from Hyundai Motor Company Australia, and an additional $1,000 per goal scored by the home team that nominated them (up to $5,000 total).

To be eligible to enter, local clubs must belong to an association affiliated to the Football Federation Australia.