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RAPT: Port fan Russell Watson with Sanjeev Gupta at the Alberton Oval community day.
Russell Watson will be on “the first plane” back to Whyalla when Port Adelaide play a game here.
Russell is a former Whyallian and a passionate life-long Port Adelaide supporter. He was at Saturday’s Alberton Oval community day to celebrate Sanjeev Gupta’s personal joint major sponsorship of the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Rapt to meet Mr Gupta, the executive chairman of GFG Alliance which owns the Whyalla steelworks and associated mines, Russell said the sponsorship was great news for Whyalla and his beloved Port Adelaide Football Club.
Russell moved to Adelaide last year to take up a teaching role with a training company but still has family here after he spent 17 years working at the Whyalla News and for BIS. He said the sponsorship rolls everything he loves into one package.
“I was living in Whyalla in the tough times and the uncertain times, so to see someone like Sanjeev doing this for the city and for my football club is incredible,” Russell said.
“He (Mr Gupta) seems a really genuine person and it wasn’t just a case of him buying a steelworks, it shows he believes in Whyalla.
“I’ll be on the first plane back when Port play a game there and I sure they’ll be lots of expats and other fans that will travel from Adelaide and other regions to watch Port in Whyalla.”
PERSONAL INVESTMENT: Sanjeev Gupta speaks with Port Adelaide president David Koch and two Power players at Alberton Oval.
Russell is also a former North Whyalla Football Club president. He said the sponsorship and Port’s commitment to Whyalla will be great for local football and kids aspiring to play AFL or any level of football or sport.
Part of Sanjeev Gupta’s sponsorship package is the commitment for the Power to play a JLT pre-season game in Whyalla as early as 2020. Mr Gupta, the club and the City of Whyalla will be working towards making that happen with a proposal for a redeveloped oval in the city.
“It (the sponsorship) is a real positive for the city, it will bring money into Whyalla and provide a lot for the community with a game and the training camps,” Russell said.
“Whyalla looks like it could also get an AFL standard oval from this sponsorship and Port’s commitment, which is another bonus.”
Port Adelaide will be bringing 37 Power players up to Whyalla on Monday February 18, for a community camp which will see visits to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, kindergartens and football clubs to connect with locals.
The players will then hold a free junior coaching clinic at Bennett Oval between 4.30pm and 6pm where kids can meet them, get autographs and have a kick and catch. To add to the party atmosphere there will be a jumping castle and face painter.
Across town at the same time, Port Adelaide assistant coach Jarrad Schofield and development coach Scott Thompson will be hosting an education forum at the Weeroona Bay Football Club for all junior and senior coaches. No bookings are needed, just turn up to the club on Cartledge Avenue from 4.30pm to 6pm.
Following the junior coaching clinic and the coach education forum, a Sportsman’s Dinner will be held at the West Whyalla Football Club - corner of Playford Avenue and Slee Streets - with arrivals from 6:30pm for 7pm start.
READ MORE ON THE PORT COMMUNITY CAMP
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=182&c=73043