> Watch club president Eddie McGuire and Heath Shaw address the media during the announcement

The Collingwood Football Club announced today that it had reached a historic agreement with the Yarra City Council for the club to return to Victoria Park.

The club’s submission to the Yarra City Council was unanimously approved at a packed council meeting held last night at the Richmond Town Hall.

Beginning in 2010 Collingwood will play all its VFL home matches at Victoria Park.

As part of the submission Collingwood will also work in partnership with the Yarra City Council to host, operate and support a series of community programs providing benefits to local community groups at Victoria Park and in the City of Yarra.

Collingwood President Eddie McGuire addressed the council meeting to present and support the club’s submission. “On behalf of all Collingwood members and supporters I am absolutely thrilled to be able to announce that the famous black and white stripes of Collingwood will again be represented at Victoria Park.

"Victoria Park is one of Australia’s most famous stadiums and will always be our club’s spiritual home. It was at Victoria Park, during the 1890’s and early 1900’s that the legend of Collingwood was created.

"Through two World Wars and the hardships of the depression years, Collingwood won a string of Premierships and supported the working class community that surrounded Victoria Park. It is vital for our football club is that we never forget our history, our culture and what we stand for.

"Collingwood will once again have a significant and meaningful presence at our traditional home. We will breathe life back into this legendary stadium, and we will honour and pay tribute to our history at Victoria Park by taking on a role of social responsibility in the local community – just as we did for over 100 year," McGuire added.

Yarra City Councilor Stephen Jolly said, “Victoria Park has been gathering cobwebs for too long.  The VFL games will bring life to the place.  With the walls coming down and new community facilities at the Social Club, the place will be the heart of the area in a year or two.”

Yarra City Councilor Jane Garrett also supported the submission and said, “Victoria Park is one of our community’s great assets and it is a fitting tribute to its heritage that Collingwood will once again be playing at its home ground.”