The XXXX Queensland Bulls will lend their support to another Queensland success story this cricket season following the recruitment of EMU sportswear as the team's training and merchandise supplier for 2002-03.

The Townsville-based company has reached an agreement to supply all Queensland Cricket elite teams with training apparel, as well produce a range of licensed supporters' merchandise for retail.

New Bulls coach Terry Oliver was pleased to welcome the company to the Bulls' circle of support.

"The Bulls are a proud Queensland team and we're delighted to have formed an association with another strong local product in the shape of EMU sportswear," he said.

EMU sportswear, a component of Fourex Clothing Pty Ltd, already offers ranges in Rugby League's State of Origin, NRL and NBL and believes the new Bulls merchandise apparel will fit neatly in the summer market.

Fourex Clothing Manager John Short said: "This move will have obvious advantages for both EMU Sportswear and the Bulls, enabling more regional Bulls fans to show their supporter colours."

Short, whose family owns and operates Fourex Clothing, said: "Our family has always been cricket people and my brother David was in the Bulls squad the year they won for the first time".

"This relationship is very exciting for my family and very important to our staff. The Bulls captain Jimmy Maher is a North Queenslander and I'd like to think all of Queensland, including the regional areas, can get behind their team."

David Short was an off-spinner who played with Wynnum-Manly and Souths and was in the Bulls squad in 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Fourex Clothing is based in Townsville with distribution channels throughout Australia, New Zealand, Japan and UK and currently employs 40 people. The company started out more then 30 years ago, manufacturing work and school wear.

Emu provide apparel for the North Queensland Cowboys and are a licensed supplier of supporter-wear for all teams in the National Basketball League and the National Rugby League.

In addition to being on sale through retail outlets throughout Queensland, the new range of Bulls supporters' wear will be available through the Bulls e-store on bulls.com.au nearer to the start of the season.

© 2002 Queensland Cricket Association

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.