ONE of the Australian Football League’s (AFL) longest running corporate partnerships was extended on Tuesday with the announcement of a new three-year deal that will see Mazda continue as the major partner of the North Melbourne Football Club until the end of the 2019 season.

By the end of the 2019 season, Mazda and North Melbourne’s corporate partnership will have lasted 21 consecutive years, spanning all the way back to 1999, the season that North last won a premiership.

Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders, who signed the original sponsorship contract back in 1999, was proud of the relationship Mazda and North Melbourne have built.

“Mazda’s association with North has been one of our most successful sponsorships, so we are delighted to continue,” he said.

“I signed the original contract, and the reasons for re-signing are as strong now as they were in 1999.

“Building a strong brand relies on strong and powerful, long-term partnerships, and we are proud that the relationship with the Kangaroos has stood the test of time.

“We also believe that our loyal and enduring support for the club provides the ideal platform to engage with followers of the Kangaroos and football in general to earn a degree of mutual respect.

“This has played a significant role in helping Mazda grow its business to now be number two in the industry.”

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw was quick to praise Mazda for its ongoing commitment to the club.

“Mazda have been a big part of North Melbourne for almost two decades now and we’re delighted to be continuing that partnership into a 21st year,” he said.

“Not many clubs around the world are able to enjoy the support of such a loyal major sponsor and we couldn’t be happier to be still working with Mazda in a very mutually beneficial partnership.”

Brayshaw, who has been chairman of the club since late 2007, will be stepping down from his role at the end of the season.

Club captain Andrew Swallow will act as the club’s ambassador to Mazda.

“As captain of a footy club, we know how important the support of all our sponsors is and we thank Mazda for their loyalty to the Roos since 1999,” he said.

Over the course of the partnership Mazda has grown exponentially to become the second-largest volume seller in Australia behind Toyota.

In 2015 it sold 114,024 vehicles, trailing Toyota’s 206,236 and ahead of Holden (102,951) and Hyundai (102,004) as the only brands to crack the six-figure sales mark.

It remains on pace to repeat that figure, selling 48,518 vehicles as of the end of May. Again, that figure trails only Toyota (80,261), while trumping Hyundai (42,050) and Holden (36,634).

By Robbie Wallis