TOPIC:

congratulations to the club and QBE on 30 years of sponsorship. I remember we were really struggling financially through the early 80's until QBE came on board and promised $100k if we made the GF in 1985. we did that but unfortunately missed out on the flag but got over the line in 1986 and picked up a lazy $200k from QBE. it's no great mystery that set us down our current path of financial independence which was further enhanced by the Subi Oval AFL seats deal. well done to all concerned on the longest unbroken sponsorship in WA sport.

Another big factor BC in getting Subi on the track to financial independence was the $300 000 we got from Hawthorne for the brilliant Gary Buckenarra.That was a huge amount of money back then in around 1982.To Subi's credit,they used the money wisely and have continued to be a very professionally run club financially ever since.They are determined not to repeat their financial ineptness of the late 70's and early 80's.

yep..you're correct mudlark. it was a big deal back then..also the astute work of "legs" Merrifield, Mike Carlisle and Basil Fuller had a big say in our transformation from a financial basket case to a power house. I'll wait for the uninformed to come on here and say we were kept alive by donations from other clubs and tin rattling during the "Think Subi" campaign...that may be true to a lesser extent but it was more down to the excellent stewardship of those mentioned above. I recall Merrifield used those big one off payments such as QBE sponsorship and Bucky's transfer fee to pay off debt and invest in property and the like. That paid off big time and put us in a very favourable place going forward.

Long sponsorships like this unfortunately are long gone in the WAFL. $300,000 back in 1982 wow that's a big sum of money. You would have to say that this would at least be doubled in todays society.

I know I wouldn't mind a $300,000 injection into the Perth coffers

Well done to Subiaco and to QBE for showing a great commitment to one another.

QBE have been great supporters of the club.

Usually sponsers have some association with the club..eg EP and AHG.

Was there someone at QBE or Western Underwriters as I think it was once called who was a keen subi supporter?

oobisoobi wrote: QBE have been great supporters of the club.

Usually sponsers have some association with the club..eg EP and AHG.

Was there someone at QBE or Western Underwriters as I think it was once called who was a keen subi supporter?

I found this on the Subiaco website, sounds like it started from a phone call from Michael Carlile ( the Subiaco president at the time) and Brian Coppin ( CEO Western Underwriters now QBE)

Back in the early 1980s the Lions fell on hard times, they were in a hopeless financial situation, there was a regular turnover of coaches, and the Club’s thirst for success was not being satisfied.

Many things had to change and two of the most historic happenings involved the appointment of Haydn Bunton as league coach and the deal that brought QBE and Subiaco together.

With a coach in place, Michael Carlile, SFC President at the time, went about trying to solve the financial issue of the club. He called on Brian Coppin, the owner/chairman of Western Underwriters (now QBE) and suggested the company put up a $100,000 incentive for the Lions to make the finals. Coppin was quick to see the promotion opportunity and enlisted Channel 9 to the cause, but despite winning nine games, Subiaco failed to reach its goal.

In 1985 Western Underwriters decided to offer the same deal, $100,000 make the four and added $200,000 if Subiaco could win the flag the following year. Lloyds of London underwrote the deal based on a decade of poor Lions results. Perhaps they should have done their homework better.

Bunton guided the club not only to the finals in 1985, but into the Grand Final. The Lions had secured the $100,000, but almost went one better and almost won the flag. The Lions made amends in 1986 beating the Sharks by securing the premiership, winning by more than 11 goals and on the way banking the $200,000.

Western Underwriters was Subiaco‘s sub-major sponsor for those two seasons. Then in 1987 Coppin, and the company’s general manager, Ian Brown, agreed to a three year major sponsorship deal with the Lions. That partnership blossomed ever since and has seen Subiaco participate in the finals on 21 occasions, contest 12 grand finals and win 6 premierships.

Today Subiaco enjoys financial stability, and the partnership with QBE has stood the test of time. In recent times QBE has supplemented its major sponsorship with support of historic milestones and key club initiatives.

Just to mention a few, the marriage celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, then there was the 2010 Diehards induction function and in 2011 QBE sponsored the production and launch of the Club’s new history book, “Diehards - The Glory Years 2000-2010”.

mikeh wrote:

oobisoobi wrote: QBE have been great supporters of the club.

Usually sponsers have some association with the club..eg EP and AHG.

Was there someone at QBE or Western Underwriters as I think it was once called who was a keen subi supporter?

I found this on the Subiaco website, sounds like it started from a phone call from Michael Carlile ( the Subiaco president at the time) and Brian Coppin ( CEO Western Underwriters now QBE)

Back in the early 1980s the Lions fell on hard times, they were in a hopeless financial situation, there was a regular turnover of coaches, and the Club’s thirst for success was not being satisfied.

Many things had to change and two of the most historic happenings involved the appointment of Haydn Bunton as league coach and the deal that brought QBE and Subiaco together.

With a coach in place, Michael Carlile, SFC President at the time, went about trying to solve the financial issue of the club. He called on Brian Coppin, the owner/chairman of Western Underwriters (now QBE) and suggested the company put up a $100,000 incentive for the Lions to make the finals. Coppin was quick to see the promotion opportunity and enlisted Channel 9 to the cause, but despite winning nine games, Subiaco failed to reach its goal.

In 1985 Western Underwriters decided to offer the same deal, $100,000 make the four and added $200,000 if Subiaco could win the flag the following year. Lloyds of London underwrote the deal based on a decade of poor Lions results. Perhaps they should have done their homework better.

Bunton guided the club not only to the finals in 1985, but into the Grand Final. The Lions had secured the $100,000, but almost went one better and almost won the flag. The Lions made amends in 1986 beating the Sharks by securing the premiership, winning by more than 11 goals and on the way banking the $200,000.

Western Underwriters was Subiaco‘s sub-major sponsor for those two seasons. Then in 1987 Coppin, and the company’s general manager, Ian Brown, agreed to a three year major sponsorship deal with the Lions. That partnership blossomed ever since and has seen Subiaco participate in the finals on 21 occasions, contest 12 grand finals and win 6 premierships.

Today Subiaco enjoys financial stability, and the partnership with QBE has stood the test of time. In recent times QBE has supplemented its major sponsorship with support of historic milestones and key club initiatives.

Just to mention a few, the marriage celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, then there was the 2010 Diehards induction function and in 2011 QBE sponsored the production and launch of the Club’s new history book, “Diehards - The Glory Years 2000-2010”.

We're so lucky to have seen so many good years. People like me who started going in 1972 found Subi at just the right time. Very fortunate.

[/i][/quote]

We're so lucky to have seen so many good years. People like me who started going in 1972 found Subi at just the right time. Very fortunate.[/quote]

We had our tough times La H... I used to hate going to school in the mid to late 70's on a Monday. It used to take me a couple of days before I would talk to anyone again after another Subi flogging!

Singha wrote: [/i]

We're so lucky to have seen so many good years. People like me who started going in 1972 found Subi at just the right time. Very fortunate.[/quote]

We had our tough times La H... I used to hate going to school in the mid to late 70's on a Monday. It used to take me a couple of days before I would talk to anyone again after another Subi flogging![/quote]

Yeah, we sure did have some tough times. Monday school wasn't fun.

I remember in 1982 when Ralph kicked 16 at Claremont and getting an absolute baking from the Claremont supporters. It was humiliating as a kid of course.

The first thing I used to do after those types of games when I got home was grab a pen and a piece of paper and write down "my" team of choice in positions. It was around about that time I started watching colts and reserves just in the hope of seeing a few future stars that might give us hope. Those habits die hard.

Still, we made it through those days thankfully.

BC wrote: yep..you're correct mudlark. it was a big deal back then..also the astute work of "legs" Merrifield, Mike Carlisle and Basil Fuller had a big say in our transformation from a financial basket case to a power house. I'll wait for the uninformed to come on here and say we were kept alive by donations from other clubs and tin rattling during the "Think Subi" campaign...that may be true to a lesser extent but it was more down to the excellent stewardship of those mentioned above. I recall Merrifield used those big one off payments such as QBE sponsorship and Bucky's transfer fee to pay off debt and invest in property and the like. That paid off big time and put us in a very favourable place going forward.

As one of the "uninformed" BC - I am quite chuffed that you have at least acknowledged the generosity of the clubs who gave to a cause mate
I remember that coin was urgently needed to survive