JK Foundation Cup: Perth businessman Tim Sullivan determined to get a footy in the hands of every kid in WA

When the WAFL circus rolls into town this weekend it won’t just be delivering a spectacle of high-quality footy, but also gifts for aspiring youngsters with hundreds of footballs set to be donated. Sullivan Logistics owner Tim Sullivan teamed up with the WA Football Commission as its major sponsor earlier this year to continue his long tradition of supporting grassroots footy. Sullivan has a long history with footy, having played it since the age of six growing up in the Wheatbelt town of Quairading. “You’d play it throughout the winter then switch to cricket in the summer waiting for it to return, football was all there was,” he said. “I remember travelling from town to town to play it, then the occasional Melbourne trip after boarding in Perth, it was great fun.” His company was also Fremantle’s major sponsor for some years and is a major sponsor of the Swan Districts Football Club. However, Sullivan’s commitment has always been at the grassroots level, with it even embedded into his contract with Swan Districts that a big share of the sponsorship pie goes towards community footy. His current initiative of trying to get football into the hands of every kid in WA stems from his junior coaching experience. “I started coaching Auskick in Chidlow when my son started and I sort of followed him up through the grades,” he said. “When I first started coaching my thought was ‘where are all the footies?’ We had maybe six for a group of 30 kids and I thought everyone should be able to have one.” As his business has grown, the opportunity to give back has also expanded and in the past two years Sullivan has given away 2500 footballs to children around the State. “The last giveaway that really chuffed me was when we took about 100 up to Broome for the WAFL game up there earlier this year,” he said. “We gave them all away and to see the kids running around and the balls flying through the air was just awesome.” Once Andrew Lockyer got in touch with Sullivan about the JK Foundation Cup in Geraldton, it was a no-brainer for him to jump on board. “I was really excited when Andrew rang me, he asked what I was doing with these footballs with my name on them and I said I had about 1200 just sitting in the cupboard,” he said. “We’ll be bringing up around 300 to Geraldton which we’ll be giving away at the skills session on the Foreshore and I believe a few more will be given out on Sunday.” Sullivan will also be supporting the JK Foundation directly with a $10,000 donation which will be presented on Sunday. “Supporting the JK Foundation and what they’re doing in building junior numbers and getting registrations covered it’s a great program to be involved in,” he said. “I’ve a big love for football and kids learning the game and I’m really looking forward to what should be a great weekend.”