World Footy News

The Golden Gate AFL, based around San Fransisco / Santa Cruz, and the AFL Queensland, have entered into a sister-league relationship, much like sister-club alliances have been formed before. AFLQ continue to be a trendsetter in promoting Australian Rules football around the world. They already do a lot of work with AFL PNG and have assisted in other areas too. The reason could just be local contacts. Another explanation for their enthusiasm might be the appreciation they have for developing the game in a region where it isn't the dominant sport. It would be great to hear if other Australian leagues have similar arrangements. The following information is direct from the GGAFL site.

In what is believed to be a first for USFooty clubs/leagues, the GGAFL announced today that it has formed a 'sister-league' arrangement with the AFLQ in Australia. President Barnes released the following statement to the media,

"It is a great deal of pleasure that I can announce a "sister league" set up with AFLQ in Brisbane. AFLQ, formely the QAFL, is Queensland's premier league and has the Brisbane Lions second side in the competition. AFLQ, through their business manager, Murray Bird have supplied us with a complete set of AFLQ rep. jumpers, shorts and assorted tops and shirts. We will use this strip in the ANZAC cup game as well as our back up set for the Nationals, and any other time when an alternate strip is needed. As well, he sent us over a brand new yellow footy, with which we will get great use out of. Murray was a great umpire in his time, and ended up umpiring in the VFL/AFL ranks for a few years, before heading back to the local ranks, and now onto football management. Although Murray had a lot of trouble seeing down to the goal square to see what all those nasty fullbacks were doing to little ole me, I rate him as the best whistleblower that I had the pleasure of playing under.

We have AFLQ's link to the website on our page, and it will be with a lot of pride that we share a connection with such a great football league and great football people.

Once more, thanks to Murray and AFLQ, we move on into the 2005 season in great shape and we pledge to do our sponsors and ourselves, the mighty Golden Gate Roos proud in all we do."