By Tara Murray
The Northern Football Netball League is moving its home base to the La Trobe University Bundoora campus.
The league announced on Monday that it had signed a new long-term agreement with the university to become the first tenant at the La Trobe Sports Park.
The league is currently based at Preston City Oval and is planning to make the move to the new facility next year.
NFNL Chief Executive Officer Peter McDougall said the partnership marked an exciting new era between the NFNL and La Trobe University.
“The relocation of the NFNL headquarters to the newly-developed La Trobe University Sports Park secures the long-term future of the NFNL administration base, as well as securing access to the new football oval and netball stadium.
“La Trobe University will become the home of NFNL football and netball, and to be aligned with such a fantastic partner will assist the NFNL to continue to grow both codes throughout
the northern metropolitan region of Melbourne.
“I look forward to working with La Trobe University on many collaborative initiatives which will provide great support and benefits to NFNL clubs and the wider community.”
The NFNL will have access to six indoor netball courts in the La Trobe Sports Stadium and Tony Sheehan Oval. The oval will become a host venue for football finals and a training facility for representative teams.
As part of the agreement, the university will be the naming rights partner of the league for at least the next 20 years.
Dean and Head of La Trobe University’s School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Professor Russell Hoye, said the University is thrilled to be the new home for the NFNL.
“This partnership provides great benefits for La Trobe students to improve their employability skills and gain valuable work experience in the growing sport industry.
“The NFNL is the first tenant to officially join the La Trobe Sports Park and become part of our sporting community that includes our 26 La Trobe University Sport clubs, and our major
sport partners Carlton Football Club, Melbourne City FC and the Melbourne Rebels.”
“The NFNL and La Trobe University will collaborate on research projects focused on community sport participation, injury prevention and wellbeing.
“La Trobe University and the NFNL will also collaborate on future programs to enhance the experience of participants in football and netball across Melbourne’s north.”
