EFL Clubs and Saddlers Illuminate Local Community Heroes…
From Friday, January 12, to Saturday, January 20, the EFL, EFL Trust, 72 EFL Clubs, and their Community Club Organisations are launching the inaugural EFL Community Weekends to honor local community heroes nationwide.
Throughout this period, Clubs, managers, and players will acknowledge the remarkable contributions of community staff and volunteers who tirelessly work 365 days a year. Special visits from players and matchday activities will recognize participants from community programs.
As part of matchday activities, fans will have the opportunity to hear stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed or saved by their Club’s community work. They will also learn about various projects and ways to actively participate.
The Saddlers are set to celebrate the EFL Community Weekend during the upcoming match against Accrington Stanley. Notably, young supporter Alfie, who bravely battles a complex heart condition and recently received a Your Heroes Child of Courage award, will be invited to the training ground and recognized as the community champion during Saturday’s match.
The Walsall FC Foundation’s impactful efforts in addressing mental health through Beat the Block sessions will also be highlighted.
Several other community heroes and projects will be acknowledged during these weekends, including:
– Lauren, Colchester United’s community champion, who is sharing her journey of living with a re-diagnosed brain tumor to raise awareness.
– Volunteers from Hull City’s Street Soccer Academy, a program aimed at building confidence and life skills for local youth.
– Participants and leaders from Ipswich Town’s ‘Senior Blues’ initiative, fostering inclusivity, combating loneliness, and promoting active lifestyles.
– Kai and his mother Becca from Cambridge United’s autism football project, recipients of the Inspirational Family Award.
– Alan Higgins of Derby County, recognized for supporting community sport at Oakwood and facilitating access for local children to play football.
– Yakub Mohammed, a member of Swindon Town FC’s Refugee football squad since its launch in 2022.
– Rotherham’s community heroes, hosted in the Club’s Corporate Hospitality Lounge, including Jon Carnforth, honored with an MBE for pandemic service.
Trevor Birch, EFL CEO, expressed delight in launching the EFL Community Weekends, emphasizing the integral role community plays in the identity of EFL and its Clubs. The initiative aims to celebrate the positive impact of football on health, wellbeing, education, employment, and community connections.
Liam Scully, Chair of the EFL Trust, highlighted the unique ability of the network to engage over 840,000 people from EFL communities, showcasing Club community work and acknowledging the contributions of volunteers.
Building on the success of the EFL Week of Action in November, the EFL Community Weekends celebrate the substantial impact of Club community work on towns and cities in England and Wales, valued at over £865m per season. During the 2021/22 season, EFL Clubs deployed nearly 10,000 individuals (over 4,000 volunteers) for community activities, providing in-kind support exceeding £40m and over 120,000 hours of free or subsidized usage of community facilities, benefiting local communities.
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