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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Ford & the Cats?78 Years and Beyond

Staff, Thursday August 14, 2003.

Page 1 of 1

Ford?s partnership with the Geelong Football Club began 78 years ago, in 1925. This was the same year that Ford began production of the Model T in Australia. Since that time, the relationship between Ford, the Geelong Football Club and the community of greater Geelong has continued to grow.

?The Geelong Football Club has enjoyed an incredible partnership with Ford and we are looking forward to the continuation of this relationship,? Geelong president Mr Frank Costa said.

?Ford and the Geelong Football Club are key institutions of the greater Geelong region. The on-going relationship is a model for business and sport partnerships and we are excited that we will be continuing to work together.?

Ford Australia President, Mr Geoff Polites, is equally enthusiastic about the long-running partnership.

?Seventy-eight years is an almost unheard of length of time for two institutions to be so closely involved with each other and the region in which they both operate, said Geoff.

?A large number of our employees are as equally enthusiastic about the Cats as they are about their work at Ford. This joint passion is just one of the reasons we are renewing our sponsorship for a further five years.

?The Cats have put in a lot of work and are now on the edge of sustained success. At Ford, we?re starting to reap the benefits of our hard work and enjoy our own success. Hopefully we can continue to reflect each other?s successes over the next five years.?

Ford has been a major part of the fabric of Geelong since the 1920?s. The Geelong area saw major growth in the 1920?s and Ford served as the major employer in the region. The Geelong Football Club was rebounding after some lean years, building an exciting young list.

Fast-forward to 2003 and amazing similarities remain. Ford has continued as Geelong?s primary employer while the Cats have again rebuilt their list and sit on the edge of sustained success. With the renewal of this, Ford and the Geelong Football Club will go forward together as the partnership extends past the 80-year mark.

When Ford began its sponsorship in 1925:

• The Model-T was introduced
• Geelong won the premiership with Cliff Rankin as captain/coach
• Geelong?s Lloyd Hagger won the league goal kicking
• Cr F C Ritchie was both mayor of Geelong and president of the Geelong Football Club
• Stanley Bruce was Australia?s prime minister
• John Logie Baird tested the first working television in his lab

Since Ford began sponsoring the Geelong Football Club

• Ford has produced more than 3,500,000 vehicles in Australia
• 696 players have made their debuts with the club
• The Cats have kicked 21,112 goals and won 862 games
• 18 different prime ministers have been elected

For further information contact:
Kevin Diggerson
Public Relations Manager
Geelong Football Club
Phone: (03) 5225 2377 (direct)
Mobile: 0413 521 103

Sinead McAlary
Brand Communications Manager
Ford Australia
Phone: (03) 9359 8498
Mobile: 0412 254 388

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