Fremantle Football Club President Rick Hart today announced that former NBA star Luc Longley would be the club’s No 1 Ticket Holder for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

“This is a fantastic appointment for the club,” Mr Hart said

“Luc is not only an outstanding sportsman having achieved the very best in his sport but he is an outstanding person and a proud and loyal Fremantle supporter.

“Luc has been with Fremantle since the very beginning and has continued his support ever since,” said Mr Hart. “It is great that Luc can represent the club as our number one ticket holder,” Mr Hart said.

As a proud and passionate Fremantle supporter, Luc has been involved closely with the club ever since its inception into the AFL. Luc has been a regular at Fremantle games since returning to Australia in 2001 and in recent years has assisted the club’s coaching staff in a variety of roles, particularly working with the club’s “big” men.

“I have always felt a strong connection to the Fremantle Football Club,” Longley said.

“They had a rough start, like my basketball career, they originated in Fremantle, like my basketball career, and I’ve enjoyed watching them grow to the powerful team they are now.”

Luc was the first Australian bred-basketballer to play NBA basketball, drafted seventh overall in 1991 by the Minnesota Timberwolves before moving to the Chicago Bulls in 1994. Luc was the starting centre in each of the Bulls three championship seasons in 1996, 1997 and 1998 teaming alongside Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Scott Pippen.

After the “break-up” of the Bulls championship team in 1999 Luc continued his NBA career with the Phoenix Suns and then the New York Knicks before injury brought his career to an end. He played a total of 567 regular season games in the NBA and represented Australia in three Olympic Games in 1988, 1992 and 2000.

Luc’s association with Fremantle has been from the club’s inception. Luc was present at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal in July 1994 to witness the presentation of the club’s AFL licence by then AFL Chief Executive Ross Oakley and unveiling of the club’s name and colours.