The North Gippsland Football Netball League has been given a significant boost with AGL Loy Yang signing a two-year naming rights sponsorship deal.

Steve Rieniets, General Manager AGL Loy Yang, said the $50,000 NGFNL sponsorship would enable local footballers, netballers and umpires to continue to participate in a high level of competition.

“We are excited to enter into this new partnership with the NGFNL,” Mr Rieniets said.

“AGL Loy Yang is an active supporter of the Latrobe Valley community, providing support for a range of community, cultural, sporting and service groups through our community support program.

“Sporting clubs are vital community assets in smaller communities like ours and we’re pleased to support the NGFNL which fosters the development of local athletes and encourages community togetherness.

“AGL Loy Yang is located in the centre of the NGFNL catchment area and many of our employees and their families are involved in NGFNL clubs, making this partnership a great fit for us,” Mr Rieniets said.

NGFNL President David Kyle said the league was thrilled to have secured such a partnership.

“We are pleased to partner with a business such as AGL Loy Yang that shares similar community values to the NGFNL. We look forward to the opportunity to continue developing this partnership,” Mr Kyle said.

“The NGFNL prides itself on local community involvement and a significant sponsorship deal such as this allows the league to develop and drive new projects and initiatives that will help to improve local community and sport.”

The partnership and 2016 AGL Loy Yang NGFNL season was officially launched at the AGL Loy Yang Learning Centre on Wednesday, 3 March, with representatives of AGL Loy Yang joining Kyle, NGFNL vice-president Jackie Bond and board member Gordon Bayley, as well as AFL Gippsland chair Brian Quigley and Region General Manager Travis Switzer at the event.

Collingwood star Brent Macaffer was a special guest at the launch, having played junior football at Heyfield, before his family moved to South Gippsland.

The 2016 AGL Loy Yang NGFNL season kicks off next week with the Good Friday clash between Woodside and Yarram, followed by the remaining round one matches on Saturday, 2 April.