40 years on and going strong

A 40-year commitment to a club or association is an impressive feat as a player, supporter or member, but such dedication is unheralded in regards to sponsorship.

As they take on University of Queensland for the Welsby Cup this Saturday at Chipsy Wood Oval, Souths will recongise a major milestone, celebrating 40 years of support from their major sponsor the Index Group.

Index Group, who deal in commercial real estate, is arguably the first sponsor in the Rugby world to advertise on a jersey, something that was taboo in the amateur era of the game.

Run by the Maclean family, The Index Group was founded in 1966, and this year celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Ross Maclean (deceased) was the original family member to run the business and was also heavily involved at Souths, serving as president as well as being recongised as a club patron and life member.

Currently run by Jeff Maclean, Ross’s son, the company and family continue to be engrossed in the club, with Jeff as well as his two sons and three brother in laws all having played for the mighty Magpies.

“Souths means a lot to us as a family. I’ve been with the club since 1974, I met my wife at Souths and my kids have played here. Once you’re a Souths man you’re a Souths man forever,” said Jeff.

“Once I left school at Churchie, I joined the Colts program in 1975 then we started the sponsorship in 1976. It was just after league teams had started putting sponsor logos on jerseys. We were the first Rugby club to have a sponsor logo on our jerseys and we did it for five or so years before the powers at be realised.

Souths and the Index Group set a trend during the late 1970s, it wasn’t until the 1980s that things began to change and clubs were introducing sponsors logos onto their jerseys, but they could be no larger than the logo of the jersey supplier.

40 years on from their initial venture in 1976, Jeff is keen to continue the Index group’s commitment to Souths for at least a further 10 years.

“Hopefully we’re good for another 10 years to make it to 50 years of sponsorship,” he said.

The connection between the Maclean family and Souths runs a lot deeper than sponsorship dollars, with the Macleans having ensured the Magpies prevailed through a number of tough periods.

Club secretary Bob Hammond said: “We’ve had a lot of hard years where we’ve struggled financially and Jeff and his father have kept us afloat.

“I’ve known Jeff since the early 1970s, I’ve seen his sons play at the club and soon his grandsons will be playing soon. The contribution the family has made to the club over the years is great.”

This Saturday the club will host a function with the Maclean family and friends and Index Group business partners, on the deck of the Souths’ clubhouse, coincidently named Ross Maclean place. Ross’s wife Daphne, now aged 88, tries to get out to Souths on game day as often as possible, but will definitely be at the match this Saturday as Souths take on University.

Ross as a club patron, devoted much of his time to the club before his unfortunate passing after battling with motor neuron disease (MND). The Ross Maclean Fellowship was established in 2004, in partnership with the Queensland Brain Institute, to help raise funds for the appointment of a research scientist dedicated to the study of MND.

Souths continues to help support the fellowship each year, hosting a luncheon which has helped raise approximately $200,000 over 11 years. This year’s event will take place on August 26, at the Pineapple Hotel, where the celebrations of the Maclean family and the Index Groups long-standing involvement with the Magpies will continue.

Souths, Queensland and Wallabies legend Andrew Slack had nothing but kind words to say about the Macleans.

“I played alongside Jeff at Souths and his father Ross was always working hard behind the scenes at the club. The Maclean family’s continued support of Souths is second to none and they’ve played a major role in the history of the club.”