Opel has launched the 2013 Opel Kit for Clubs initiative looking to build on the €80,000 worth of playing kit and equipment it distributed to clubs through 2012.
The company has a long standing relationship with the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association where it serves as the official car partner and sponsor of the Association’s Player of the Month and Year Awards.
Six players are to be used as ambassadors for the campaign at events around the country. Colm Cooper, Ciaran Kilkenny, Joe Canning Eoin Cadogan, Jackie Tyrell and Michael Darragh McAuley is a high profile grouping and coverage of the launch of the initiative again shows the value of using sporting celebrity endorsement.
The initiative offers fans the chance to earn free sports kit and equipment for their local GAA club. Points are awarded for every test drive, service or purchase made through the Opel dealer network. These can be built up collectively through the club and redeemed against gear at the end of the campaign.
The Opel initiative is broadly similar in construction to the Lucozade Club Crusade which offers points for bottle caps but which extends to all sports clubs and not just to GAA. The two promotions being in totally separate sectors means they could even be promoted alongside each other but there is no indication yet as to whether this will happen at a business to business level.
Mallow GAA Club took part in the initiative in 2012, and earned €6,400 of gear for the club; Ardara GAA Club in Donegal earned €1,950 of gear; and Annaduff GAA Club in Leitrim earned over €3,000 worth of gear; demonstrating the savings that a GAA club can make by taking part.
“The Opel Kits for Clubs is another indication of the commitment of Opel to the ongoing promotion and support of Gaelic Games,” said GAA President Liam O’Neill.
“Opel’s support of the top strata of our games through the GAA GPA All-Stars and player of the month awards is complemented by the tangible benefits available to clubs and their members who engage in this initiative, helping the GAA to grow from our clubs up.”
Dessie Farrell, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association added: “The Kit for Clubs Scheme connects club and county in a practical way with the county player ambassadors helping to raise awareness for an initiative that has real tangible benefits for club volunteers,” added Dessie Farrell, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association.”
“At a time when GAA clubs are facing the same challenges as everyone else, it’s now more important than ever to support your local GAA club and I’m delighted that the Opel Kit for Clubs initiative can genuinely make a difference in helping local clubs,” said Dave Sheeran, Managing Director of Opel Ireland at yesterday’s launch.
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Clubs Driven to Kit Redemption by Opel
