Premier League Passion Builds Up Footy Fans' Fitness
27 March 2013
Footballers and staff from the Everton Football Club Community Programme.
In a time of both public spending austerity and major public health concerns, football clubs are beginning to consider their wider social role in society. More clubs and their respective community foundations are now investing in health promotion programmes for their fans and local communities.
”Dan Parnell, University of Derby Programme Leader for Sport and Exercise Science.
Hard at work using Everton's facilities.
The results of a project between University researchers and Premier League side Everton Football Club to improve men's health have been revealed at a major European conference.
Dan Parnell, University of Derby Programme Leader for Sport and Exercise Science, and Kathryn Curran, Researcher with Liverpool John Moores University's Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, worked with Everton's Community Programme to promote the health of male fans and others.
Their findings were released at the European Healthy Stadia Conference 2013, held at Manchester City FC's Etihad Stadium.
The conference brought together more than 300 decision-makers from sports clubs, stadia, sports governing bodies and health agencies across Europe; looking at ways in which they can both help improve communities' health and, in doing so, benefit as businesses.
Sports organisations and teams involved in the event last Thursday (March 21) included the Barclay's Premier League, UEFA, Lord's Cricket Ground, BBC Sport, the England and Wales Cricket Board, Premiership Rugby, Rugby League, Manchester City FC, Aston Villa FC, Dunfermline FC, Motherwell FC, FC Barcelona and St Helens RFC. Speakers came from the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Italy and elsewhere across Europe.
Dan headed a workshop at the prestigious one-day event which, among other initiatives, examined a report on his and Kathryn's work, entitled: The Realities of Promoting Men's Health: A Case Study from Everton FC's Community Football Programme.
'The Blues' Community Programme used a love of football in men - many from areas with traditionally poor male health - to promote healthier living messages around obesity, exercise, stopping smoking, cancer awareness, substance and alcohol misuse, and mental and sexual health. Fans taking part had access to resources such as top gym facilities, regular health checks, and one-to-one mentoring and advice from trained health and well-being practitioners."
Commenting on his joint research Dan said: "Football is special, it evokes deep emotions in fans across Europe. These emotions are often founded upon the history, traditions, cultures and love for a particular football club.
"In a time of both public spending austerity and major public health concerns, football clubs are beginning to consider their wider social role in society. More clubs and their respective community foundations are now investing in health promotion programmes for their fans and local communities.
"The workshop we hosted at the European Healthy Stadia Conference explored our research on an intervention to promote men's health and offered real insight into the complexities of delivering interventions aimed at changing health behaviours in men."
Dan has recently published research on sport's, particularly football's, role in promoting health among older men, help for those quitting smoking and children's play.
Kathryn added: "In order to make a real difference to the health of men, it is essential that health professionals/practitioners learn from one other and share best practice.
"The Conference provided an excellent platform for Dan and I to share our knowledge, experiences and insights from six years of immersed research and delivery with men at Everton's Community Programme, with like-minded people."
On Monday June 24 the University of Derby's Sport and Exercise Department will be running a 'Schools and Community Football Conference' at Burton Albion Football Club's Pirelli Stadium. For more details see web link
www.derby.ac.uk/science/sport-and-exercise/events/schools-and-community-football-conference
For more information about the University of Derby's sport and exercise degrees go to website www.derby.ac.uk/science/sport-and-exercise or see Twitter feed @DerbyUniSportEx
