carsales helping the EFL Drive Umpiring and Road Safety Forward

The EFL is pleased to announce a new three-year partnership with Australia’s number-one online automotive classifieds company, carsales.

The partnership includes support of and branding on new uniforms for umpires, as well as an investment in our continuing road safety program aimed at learner drivers.

“We are thrilled to have a multi-national company such as carsales partnering with the Eastern Football League,” EFL CEO Phil Murton said.

“Their support will help continue to drive the standards of umpiring in the EFL, reduce costs to entry for new umpires, as well as allow us to continue to put resources into our valuable road safety program.”

carsales Chief Marketing Officer Kellie Cordner said of the partnership, “We understand the importance of sporting organisations, such as the EFL, to their local community.”

“We see umpires as integral to the success of local sporting competitions, but they don’t often receive the same support from sponsors as players and clubs.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to make a genuine difference across all age groups.

“We are also very passionate about the road safety of all Australian’s, particularly those graduating onto their full license, so we are delighted to play a role in helping continue the EFL’s learner drive program.”

The partnership marks a new look for umpires across the EFL with new uniforms being launched across the senior competition this week.

Moving away from white for the first time in history, EFL umpires will now wear a new modern colour and design, as seen in the AFL and other state leagues.

EFL Head of Umpiring Scott Van Noordennen said the change will have a big impact on umpire retention and development.

“Umpires, just like players and coaches, aspire to the top level of our sport and feedback from our umpires and from those leagues who have changed, is that aligning our uniform with the colour, cut and quality of that at the elite level gives further inspiration for umpires to aim for a career in umpiring,” Van Noordennen said.

The new uniform will be phased into the senior competition this week and the junior competition the following week.