PORT FAIRY’S recruiting drive has stretched off-field, with North Melbourne president and sports commentator James Brayshaw annointed the Hampden league club’s number one ticket-holder.
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Seagulls president Mick Wolfe said The Footy Show co-host and Triple M personality would help raise the club’s profile.
“He’s made offers to us with his contacts that he can offer the club,” he said.
“We haven’t asked anything of him, just the acknowledgement of him being number one member ticket-holder.
Brayshaw said he had strong links to Port Fairy and was happy to help.
“We have had a great relationship with Port Fairy,” he said.
“1997 was the first time we came here and we’ve had a place here for a long time so I love the place and I know the Hearns really well and I know they are trying really hard ignite sport in the area which I think is fantastic and a great credit to them.
“Basically I love grassroots sports of any type.
“My boys — I have four of them — they all play tennis and golf and footy and cricket and they need wonderful people at all of those clubs and places to coach and assist and help make that happen.
“With my professional life I haven’t been around enough to be able to do that myself so I am really grateful to the mums and dads that spend countless hours making that happen for young sports people.
“So if I can help in another way because I can’t actually be there I am more than happy to do it.”
Brayshaw said while work commitments would make it hard for him to watch Port Fairy play, his contribution would extend beyond being the number one ticket-holder.
“I am on radio for 25 hours a week and other forms of television so there are lots of ways to help, auction items and bits and pieces,” he said.
Wolfe said the Seagulls were focused on building strong community links and appreciated Brayshaw’s support.
“We’ve had a few projects off the field...we’ve had a rodeo here, we had a comedy night last week and that went very well,” he said.
“V/Line sponsors a night which is coming up in a month.
“It’s talking about alcohol and youth and we’ll be hosting that for anyone in the region to come and look and learn.
“It is a structured format to get through to the kids.
“The committee feels that we can play a major role in the community with things like that.”
“We can be a real centrepiece in the community.
“Apart from what we achieve on the footy and netball field, we can really step up and show people we are here as part of the town.”
Wolfe said Port Fairy had enjoyed a strong pre-season under new senior football coach Sam Rudolph and new A grade mentor Emma O’Keeffe.
He said numbers on the football training track were promising.
“With our juniors we have great numbers; the best we’ve had for years,” he said.
“That is our strength, trying to create a culture of loyalty to them and get it in return.
“It is a long-term project but we’ve definitely started to get the ball rolling and hopefully it will pay dividends in a year or two or three.”
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au