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The Healthy Football League has been launched with League of Ireland supporters urged to sign up and help your club win the title of Ireland’s healthiest community of fans.
The HFL, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, is an app-based health promotion programme which uses the friendly rivalry of football fans and communities to encourage health enhancing physical exercise.
The competition is open to people of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a serious fitness enthusiast or someone who just likes to walk for health and well-being, you can score valuable points for your club and visibly affect their position on the HFL table. Every step counts!
The HFL, developed by the European Football for Development Network, is set to get underway on February 28 and supporters are urged to download the app and sign up ahead of the three-month competition.
"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 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."
Laura Lynch, Bank of Ireland Chief Marketing Officer, said: We’re 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.
"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.
For more information, head to www.healthyfootballleague.com or download the app now from the App Store by searching 'Healthy Football League'. The competition will end on May 31 with the winning club to be announced on June 1.