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A newly published report from the Council of Small Businesses of Australia (COSBOA) shows the vital role small to medium businesses play in backing community and local sporting teams across the country.

Canvassing 65 local football clubs and associations across Australia, COSBOA found that more than 90% were supported by a local small business and that many clubs were sponsored by multiple firms.

Advising that the study provides evidence of how independent local firms are using their funds to enrich their communities, COSBOA Chief Executive, Peter Strong advised “we know how important small business is for the economy and for jobs - small business people contribute so much more. Sport is a quintessential part of our culture and our communities.

“Whether it be netball, rugby of some sort, AFL, darts, bowls, soccer and so forth. They are often sponsored by a business like a cafe, a panel beater, real estate agent, a franchisee of some sort, hairdressers, newsagents, pie shops and so forth. Families need sport and sport needs us and we need families.”

COSBOA identified butchers, bookkeeping businesses and barbershops as common sponsors for local sports clubs, while there are also plenty of franchised chains like McDonalds were on the list.

Strong went on to say that small business is an important part of local communities, particularly in regional Australia, not only by supporting local clubs and charities but also by backing boards of local community groups and sponsoring school events as well as childrens’ sport teams.

He advised that COSBOA’s survey was part redefining the narrative about small business in Australia from merely its importance to the economy to its importance for local communities as well.

COSBOA’s survey showed that 61 out of 65 clubs and associations surveyed (94%) were sponsored by local small businesses, and 100% were sponsored by either local small businesses or local medium businesses (such as RSL clubs and hotels).

Examples include the Narooma Football Club on the NSW South Coast being sponsored by a local IGA, a pharmacy and a butcher, among many others and the Eaglehawk Football Club in Bendigo’s sponsorship by a bookkeeping business, a barbershop, a butcher, and many more local businesses.

Lower image shows the Narooma Football Club's many sponsors.

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