A Melbourne agency has thrown its support behind grassroots sport, signing on a jersey sponsorship with a local club, uniting its commitments to high performance and community.
Barry Plant Coburg has announced it will be a jersey sponsor for the local football club in 2026, one year after commencing a five-year partnership with the group.
Led by Coburg Football Club general manager Nick Byrne and Barry Plant Coburg managing director Fadi Khoder, the network said the alliance was a result of a shared commitment to the community.
The idea for the sponsorship was first sparked when Khoder purchased a new office just 100 metres from the club’s ground, and a team member suggested the idea of sponsorship.
Khoder approached the club and had deep conversations with Byrne about wanting to make a lasting impact, rather than the move simply being a business decision.
“What sold me was the passion of the club and its people. Coburg plays in a league full of clubs with far greater resources, but they’ve got heart, resilience, and an unshakable drive to succeed,” he said.
Khoder said Barry Plant and the football team operated with a similar focus and shared the same long-term vision for tangible outcomes in the area.
“It quickly became clear that we both wanted the same thing: to build something meaningful, sustainable, and positive for Coburg,” he said.
As part of the deal, the team’s ground has been renamed Barry Plant Park, while the network’s logo will also be featured on jerseys in the 2026 season.
As a father of 11, five of whom have played football in Melbourne’s north, Khoder said community sport was essential to keeping children active, building confidence and teaching life skills they wouldn’t learn by staring at a screen.
Khoder’s desire to show support also came from the recognition that, as an independent group, the Coburg club operated without the backing of an Australian Football League (AFL) affiliate, relying instead on sponsorships and match-day revenue.
“You can’t run a club on goodwill alone. They needed real support, and I saw an opportunity to step up,” he said.
Barry Plant head of marketing, Kashka Hardy, attended the club’s recent 2026 Jersey Presentation Night with his family, and said the event was a valuable chance to see the Coburg community come together.
“I felt incredibly proud seeing the Barry Plant logo on the jersey and supporting a club with such a wonderful history,” he concluded.
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