Melbourne Football Club today announced the signing of a new major sponsor, L.D. Wholesale Tyres Pty Ltd who are the major distributor of Hankook Tyres in Australia.

Hankook has joined the Club as a joint major sponsor for the next three years. The partnership will include major exposure elements for Hankook, including the guernsey front, a presence on all Club apparel and promotional items, on the media backdrop and MCG signage, through match day partnership, and via other avenues such as corporate hospitality.

Club president Jim Stynes said, ‘This partnership takes the Melbourne Football Club a considerable way towards meeting its sponsorship targets for 2009, while maintaining the opportunity for another partner to sponsor the back of the Club guernsey.’

Stynes also acknowledged Hankook’s support in uncertain economic times and urged Melbourne supporters to take Hankook’s lead and support the Club by purchasing a membership.

A lifelong Melbourne supporter and owner of L.D. Wholesale Tyres, Lawrie De La Rue put sentiment aside in favour of the commercial prospects when deciding to become a major sponsor of the Melbourne Football Club.

A South Korean tyre manufacturer, Hankook is known for its fuel-saving technology for passenger car tyres. Hankook also has a vast range of tyres to suit four-wheel drive, light van, truck and heavy truck vehicles.

Mr De La Rue said he is excited to be more closely involved with Melbourne through the Hankook brand, which has featured on advertising signage at the MCG since 1992.

“Melbourne supporters would be familiar with the Hankook name and we are delighted to help support the football club in critical times through the extension of our marketing activities,” Mr De La Rue said.

“Our business is in a growing phase and is approaching the recession with optimism and with Melbourne Football Club also developing, we believe we can prosper together.

“I believe Melbourne has a good board of management, comprising of committed people with varied business skills. Together with a good coach and a young, developing list, there are strong foundations for the future success of our football club.

“I am also buoyed by the proposed move to the City of Casey, where I live, because it will be a tremendous move for the future development of Melbourne Football Club and will enhance its membership and image.”

Mr De La Rue said this was his first significant football sponsorship, although he has had player sponsorship and coterie memberships with Melbourne in the past. Grass roots football clubs such as Gembrook, Beaconsfield, St Joseph’s Geelong , Healesville, and North Warrnambool all receive ongoing support.

L.D. Wholesale Tyres is a family business now in its 35th year. In 1980, it started business with Hankook, now the seventh largest tyre manufacturer in the world.

“We have grown from humble beginnings to become the largest Hankook distributor in Australia and one of the Top 10 Hankook distributors worldwide,” Mr De La Rue said.

“Through our initiatives Hankook has become a household name in the Victorian and Tasmanian markets. It has been driven by our own advertising and marketing over the past 10 years and, importantly, by the tyre quality and technological advantages Hankook has developed.

“Hankook invests five per cent of its turnover annually on research and development to deliver market leading, high-tech value for money products.”