The Healthy Football League is a new initiative from the FAI and Bank of Ireland to encourage fan involvement with their club.
The app-based health promotion programme will use the friendly rivalry of football fans and communities to encourage health-enhancing physical exercise.
It will take the form of a competition open to people of all ages and fitness levels. Serious fitness enthusiasts and those who are doing a regular walk for their own health and well-being will all be able to score valuable points for their club and visibly impact their position on the HFL table.
The Healthy Football League was developed by the European Football for Development Network and will get underway on February 28 and run for three months.
Support
“We’re really excited to launch the Healthy Football League and I’d like to thank Bank of Ireland for their crucial support of this project,” said FAI Community Development Manager Derek O’Neill.
“It’s really important that we all get active and encourage each other to exercise for our own mental and physical well-being, especially coming through the pandemic which has been so difficult for so many in our community.”
“The Healthy Football League will hopefully encourage League of Ireland supporters to get active in any way, shape or form. You don’t have to be running marathons every day, you can go and walk the dog or even walking to a League of Ireland match will help your club register more points.
“It is completely free of charge and I’m looking forward to seeing the competition get underway so make sure you get your family, friends and anyone in the community to sign up and support your club.”
More Than a Club
“We are delighted to support the Healthy Football League, as part of the More Than A Club programme, helping clubs become even more involved and accessible in their local communities,” added Laura Lynch, Chief Marketing Officer at Bank of Ireland.
“It’s so important that we all get active and encourage each other to exercise for our own mental and physical well-being, especially coming through the pandemic which has been difficult for so many in our communities. You don’t have to run a marathon every day, you can walk the dog, play football with the kids or just be as active as you can in whatever way you can. We’re looking forward to seeing people sign up and take part to support their local League of Ireland club.”
There are significant cash prizes on offer to the winning LOI club and the country’s most active grassroots club and school.
Grassroots clubs and schools wishing to partner with their local League of Ireland club should contact their LOI club community officer directly who can add that school or club to the HFL App as a HFL partner.
Sport for Business Perspective
Creating bonds between the fans and their local club, especially away from the training and the results on a matchday is a crucial way to foster the strength of the League. Doing so with a habit-forming initiative like this is a double winner as all movement is good for mental and physical wellbeing and getting active as part of your club is a double winner.
