For the second year in a row, Squadron Energy’s Sapphire Wind Farm is sponsoring teams playing in the Joeys Mini World Cup in Inverell. 

The sponsorship will support all players in the Under 8 and Under 10 teams, in addition to providing all Cup players with a backsack. 

Sapphire Wind Farm Operations Manager David Williamson said he was proud to be supporting a tournament that provides rural kids with opportunities in football that they wouldn’t otherwise have. 

“Not only does this event give regional rising soccer stars an opportunity to showcase their skills, it also generates revenue for the local community,” Mr Williamson said. 

“Our main goal at Squadron Energy is to use energy for good by ensuring local communities reap the benefits that our projects can offer.” 

The inaugural Joeys Mini World Cup was held in Inverell in 2010 and was founded by Inverell’s Heinrich Haussler. Over the next eight years, the tournament expanded to 48 teams.  

Mr Haussler said this year the event is expected to attract more than 50 teams. 

“This year we expect over 2,000 visitors with about $1.8 million being injected into the Inverell economy,” Mr Haussler said.  

“Teams come from across NSW, QLD and Victoria, and we offer awards for players to tour Germany, which has given many players a stepping stone to play professional football overseas.” 

The Mini World Cup finishes today (Monday Oct 30) at the sports Complex.

Each of Squadron Energy’s projects has a community sponsorship program, which provides funds or in-kind support to community organisations and events in the local project area.    

Sapphire Wind Farm is the largest operational wind farm in New South Wales. During construction it created 259 jobs and injected $25 million into the regional economy.