Richmond Football Club has officially announced an affiliate partnership with Tasmanian State League Football (TSL) club, the Tigers, the first of its kind at this level across the country.

Initially known as the Kingston Football Club, when formed in 1886, it became the Kingborough Tigers in 2004.

Season 2014 will be the club’s first in the Tasmanian State League and it will now simply be known as the Tigers. 

The Kingborough and Huon Valley municipalities – where the Tigers are based – has a population approaching 50,000, and is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the State.

“We saw this as a great opportunity to support grass-roots football and leverage the Tiger brand to the benefit of the Club and the community more broadly,” said Richmond’s CEO Brendon Gale.

“It will be a partnership based very much on strengthening the Kingborough and Huon Valley communities, which we hope will, in turn, support their local football Club.”

The partnership will see the Tigers and Richmond work with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to embed the Foundation’s programming into as many primary schools in the region as possible.

The clubs will also identify Indigenous youth from the region to provide them with the opportunity to participate in the Korin Gamadji Institute leadership camps.

Beyond this, Richmond will work to support the club’s significant junior development program, as well as its board and administration.

“Richmond has great links into Tasmania through players such as Royce Hart, Michael Roach, Matthew Richardson, Ian Stewart, Paul Sproule and Jack Riewoldt and, as a result, we have really good support in the region,” Gale said.

“An affiliation such as this allows us to further develop that existing supporter base and support the local community the same. As a national brand, it is important we continue to look for opportunities such as this.”

Tigers President Steve Old welcomed the affiliate partnership with open arms.

“Anytime would be a great time for the announcement of this partnership but for it to happen on the eve of round one is a great kick-start to our first season in the TSL,” Old said.

“We see ourselves as having a responsibility to give back to the Kingborough and Huon Valley communities, and this partnership provides us with the opportunity to do just that.

“We will be working on a range of activities with Richmond and its preferred charity partner - the Alannah and Madeline Foundation - to help protect children from violence and bullying. We will also provide unique opportunities for the local Indigenous community to engage with Richmond’s Indigenous Institute.

“Beyond this, our access to Richmond’s coaching staff and players will help us significantly develop our junior and youth development programs now and into the future.”

“We are proud to be involved in such an alliance and we hope – over time – our region will become known as Tigerland”.