Target 1000: Coburg signs 1000th member to complete successful campaign

Coburg is set to celebrate when it hosts Collingwood in round one of the VFL season after a joint campaign with Leader resulted in it signing up 1000 members to stay competitive.

Before the ball is bounced for the first time this season at Coburg City Oval on April 6, the Lions already have their first win.

Pascoe Vale man Tony Herbet became the 1000th member of the Coburg Football Club on Thursday, completing a membership drive that began in February.

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“I saw you wanted more members, so I was happy to support the club,” he told the Lions after being informed he had broken through the barrier.

“I’ve known and supported the club for many years.”

The Lions began the Target 1000 campaign to breathe new life into the proud club and raise funds to become competitive on field after winning just one game last season.

Leigh Adams hopes to draw a big crowd to home games this year. Picture: Hamish Blair

Coach Leigh Adams said players had called upon their own family and friends to reach the target.

“There’s been a lot of hard work from people at the footy club and our boys have worked really hard to get their family members on board. Some of them have signed up 10 to 15 family members,” he said.

“We pride ourselves on being a real community and family club and that is a strength of ours.”

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Coburg is the only stand-alone VFL club in Melbourne’s north and had just 488 members before the drive. Moreland Leader supported the campaign, which saw the club smash its previous record of 680 members, set last year.

Coburg general manager Seb Spagnuolo said funding from new members would wipe out club debt, upgrade training equipment and help purchase new junior apparel.

Club legend Kerion Lawson was quick to jump on board during the campaign. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Yes the additional revenue is fantastic and much needed by our club, but it’s equally fantastic for our club to be bigger and stronger in numbers,” he said. “We want all our members at every game cheering our players each week.”

The club had struggled to gain a foothold in the community after running into financial trouble at the turn of the century and aligning with Richmond Football Club for 13 years until the end of 2013. Adams said the club wanted to keep growing and was hoping for a big crowd in the season opener against Collingwood’s VFL side on April 6 from 2pm.

“We’re playing against probably the biggest club in the country and we know their supporters will come out in force so if we can get as many supporters down as possible on Saturday it would be great,” he said. “We’ve got a young group who are playing good footy … so it will be a really good game.”

@Josh__Barnes