Reclink Cup going national in 2016

The Reclink Community Cup is going national this year, with charity matches set to add Hobart and Brisbane to its tour, along with Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

This much-adored charity football series that pits musicians against media attracts more than 10,000 people and raises money for Reclink Australia, which supports some of the community’s most vulnerable and isolated people: at risk youth, those experiencing mental illness, people with a disability, the homeless, people tackling alcohol and other drug issues and social and economic hardship. Last year’s events in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide raised more than $215,000. This year with the inclusion of Brisbane and Hobart, Reclink Australia aims to raise more than $250,000 to better enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage around Australia. 

Reclink’s CEO John Ballis says:

“For Reclink the Community Cup is a time when the media – particularly the community radio sector – and local musicians band together to help raise much needed funds to enable us to deliver sport, recreation and arts programs that make a huge difference to lives of the neediest in our community; programs that foster self-confidence, fight isolation, develop skills, and establish connections and lasting friendships.”

The matches will roll out from June - September:

• Hobart -  5 June
• Melbourne - 26 June
• Adelaide - 7 August
• Sydney - 14 August
• Perth - 28 August
• Brisbane - 25 September

The Cup will feature performances by some of the country’s most notable artists with lineups for entertainment, players, and personnel in each state expected in the coming weeks.

In the past, this has included the likes of Paul Kelly, Courtney Barnett, Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins and more have participated either as players, coaches or even water runners.

This year’s theme Smells Like Team Spirit pays homage to Nirvana’s classic album Nevermind celebrating its 25th anniversary with a classically Australian cheeky nod to the day’s sport skew.

All the money raised in each state will go directly to local Reclink Australia programs to help participants like Raeles from Victoria who grew up as a state ward child, with no family or support. She is now a valued team member in Reclink’s cricket program.

Raels says:

 “I didn’t actually have any family around me when I was a young girl. I was a state ward child and all I wanted to do was to just get out there and enjoy life and have a bit of fun and feel like I belonged to something. For me facing a ball: it’s just heaven. It’s just like I know I can hit you, come on give me a faster ball. It’s just a sense of pride that you’ve worked hard for your whole team. It’s not about you; it’s about your whole team. It’s the only day I look forward to in the week is to come down here and just be able to play cricket and be accepted.”

Find out more about your local Community Cup on their website.