Guildford Coal joins as newest major sponsor

GUILDFORD COAL JOINS AS NEWEST MAJOR SPONSOR

Emerging Queensland mining company Guildford Coal has become a major financial contributor to the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys after signing on as a partner with the NRL club for season 2012.

The partnership, which also has two one-year options, includes sponsorship of the Cowboys' coaching staff and membership programs, as well as naming rights sponsorship of the highly successful annual Laurie Spina Shield junior rugby league carnival and the Cowboys' annual Members Carnival and Members Match.

The announcement was made at the Port of Townsville today by Guildford Coal Non-Executive Chairman Craig Ransley, Guildford Coal GM Stakeholder Relations Tony Mooney and Toyota Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain.

Cowboys head coach Neil Henry, who will be one of the coaching staff to wear the Guildford logo on their apparel, also took part in the signing ceremony.

Guildford Coal's priority projects include two in the Cowboys' footprint - the Hughenden Project in the Galilee/Eromanga Basins and the Sierra Project in the Bowen Basin - as well as the Kolan Project in the Maryborough Basin.

The company has other projects underway in the Surat/Bowen Basin and the NagoorinGraben and Mulgildie Basin, as well as in the Asian nation of Mongolia.

MrRansley said linking with the Cowboys was an obvious fit for Guildford Coal given the company's developing profile in North Queensland.