A NEW membership record has been set by the Port Adelaide Football Club on the eve of the 2014 AFL Premiership Season.

The club smashed its previous record of 41,543 at the first of its two annual membership telethons, with members of the club’s administration staff, playing group and coaching panel taking to the phones to call up unrenewed and prospective members.

Port Adelaide’s membership record was set in 2013 on the back of its Drive to 40,000+ campaign following on the appointment of Ken Hinkley as senior coach and Travis Boak as captain of the club.

The successful 2013 on-field campaign combined with the club’s historic move to the Adelaide Oval as its home ground for 2014 has assisted in reaching this new target according to chief executive officer Keith Thomas.

But Mr Thomas also says it was a year of performance across a range of areas in its administrative and member servicing operations that has seen the club’s people return in droves to membership uptake.

“We had an exceptional year in terms of member satisfaction in 2013,” said Mr Thomas.

“In five of seven areas surveyed by the AFL, we scored ratings equal to or higher than results produced across all clubs in 2013.

“Our satisfaction ratings were higher than in our 2004 premiership season 10 years ago.

“Marketing and member communications, satsifcation with on-field performance and supporter engagement were the highest they’ve ever been, so it shows it doesn’t just take good results on the field but strong effort off the field to deliver your members what they want.

“We tackle everything we do with a whole club mentality and we know thats what our people want.”

Mr Thomas says setting a new membership record is the latest in a string of off-field successes for the club during the summer, particularly in the area of corporate revenue generation.

“It was fantastic to announce EnergyAustralia as a new joint major partner with Renault last month and I think people and the wider corporate Australia are starting to see our club as a serious competitor in the national sporting market.

“We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but I think this membership record is a testament to the commitment Port Adelaide people have to their football club, whether they’re in the Port heartland, elsewhere in Adelaide or around the country or around the world.

“I want to thank all of our members and say to those still thinking of whether to take up a membership with us in this special year - You Don’t Want To Miss This!

“Our return to the Adelaide Oval will be a fantastic experience and we are planning great things at the ground, our membership really is the hottest entertainment ticket in town right now.”

You Don’t Want To Miss This. Guarantee your seat at the historic first Showdown at the Adelaide Oval on March 29 by becoming an 11-game reserved seat or Essential Power member at weareportadelaide.com.au or by calling 1300 GO PAFC.