European Legends Programme – Morethanfootball at EFDN
EFDN, the European Football for Development Network consists of professional football clubs who are not only committed to their social responsibilities but have the passion to cooperate and engage on a European level. The aims of the network are to promote the power of football as a tool for social development, exchange knowledge and creating funding opportunities for local participants of the member clubs within their regions. Currently, the network consists of 40 European football clubs from all over Europe.
One of EFDN’s activitites is the European Legends Programme.
European Legends Programme
European Legends is a EFDN Pan European Programme funded by Erasmus Sport, a football-based health programme that kicked off in January 2016 and will run for a period of two- years.
13 EFDN Network member clubs from 7 different countries work in collaboration which focuses on developing and delivering a “Walking Football” community programme for a hard to reach target group.
The European Legends programme follows the mission of increasing the participation in sport, physical activity and voluntary activity for people aged 50 and older. The programme has the purpose of raising awareness for the powerful role sport plays in promoting health enhancing physical activities, social inclusion and equal opportunities.
What is Walking Football?
Walking football is a game of football, where the players walk instead of run. The sport is designed to support people above 50 years old, to get fit or maintain an active lifestyle independently from their age and level of fitness. The programme supports participants to get back into football, if they had previously given up due to age, injury or health reasons.
To date the programme has seen many health benefits of the participants including lowering heart rates, blood pressure, weight loss and better mobility. The programme is providing participants opportunities for social interaction which is a unique outcome which integrates participants back into society by tackling social isolation.
All European Legends Walking Football Sessions consist of two parts. Part 1 of the session creates a friendly environment for social activity where people can meet other players, introduce new players and discuss day to day life. Part 2 consists of practical football session, warm up and team building activities and a walking football game.
European Legends- A Pan European Project powered by EFDN
The 13 EFDN network member clubs from Feyenoord Rotterdam, Fulham FC, Tottenham Hotspur, NEC Nijmegen, Vitesse Arnhem, KAA Gent, Club Brugge, Valerenga Fotball, VFL Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, SV Werder Bremen, Anorthosis Famagusta and SL Benfica along with EFDN is promoting the Walking Football methodology in seven different countries across Europe.
To achieve this goal, representatives of the European Legends Programme have been attending international seminars to date at PSV Eindhoven Netherlands, Fulham FC London, Anorthosis Famagusta Cyprus and SL Benfica Lisbon.
Together, a Walking Football practitioners guide is being developed for Walking Football which will then be accessed and applied to other sporting formats for local communities across Europe.
The Programme will deliver a flagship event in September 2017 where clubs will gather, along with other walking football clubs and groups to take part in the European Legends Walking Football Festival. The event will be hosted by Vitesse Arnhem at the iconic Dutch national sporting centre Papendal.
The walking football festival is an opportunity for all participating clubs to come together along with local authorities, stakeholders and sponsors to celebrate the lifespan of the programme and look at the sustainable avenues to continue the inspirational work within their regions.
A Case study from Fulham, showing the impact of the Walking Football programme:
Alan Powell is a 66 year old Fulham fan from Surbiton. Alan suffered a Heart attack on the 28th June 2003. He had a stent put in place but this failed to work and he suffered a second heart attack in August of the same year. After the second heart attack the doctors decided that a heart bypass was needed and an operation was carried out in December 2003. In Alan’s own words, he has being recovering ever since. On a daily basis he went through both a physical and mental battle to maintain his health, attending cardio rehabilitation with both St George’s and Kingston hospital. He was referred to gyms and support classes, and although this helped him get back on his feet, he still wanted something that could really motivate him.
In 2016, Alan found out about the Fulham legends programme by looking through Fulham Football Clubs website. He admitted that he was not aware of the work the Foundation did until that day, but was delighted to see that there was programmes he could attend. After attending the first session, and mastering the walking element, alan was hooked and has been a central figure in the legends programme. When asked how he found the programme he noted. ‘‘Excellent!!! Great coach, great assistants and lovely members within our group. In the main, true “Fulham Family” supporters’’ Although the football was important to Alan, it almost came secondary to the social aspect as this is where Alan’s true personality shone through. He makes a real effort to organise coffees, before, after and outside of the sessions and made himself the go to guy main to welcome any new member wishing to experience walking football in the community. He made a special effort with individuals who lacked confidence or ability and has with his brilliant humour, made them feel welcome straight away. Off the back of all his support I put Alan forward to do an interview with a Journalist from The Sunday Telegraph where he noted; ‘’it gives me that exercise that I need and I am meeting new people while I do it. I have found a new circle of mates. The basic thing that brings us together is the shared interest in Fulham Football Club, so we all remember the old players’’.
In the article, Alan mentioned that the experience of playing again makes him feel like a young footballer again. ‘’You get your kit on, you’ve got that feeling in the dressing room, you’ve got your mates around you, you get on the pitch, you get split into two teams –it’s just like being in school again’’.
Alan is the classic example of the success of the European Legends project. He is someone with multiple conditions that was socially isolated and needed something where he could improve his health in an environment he felt comfortable in. He has increased his levels of exercise, monitors his own health through wearable technology, volunteers and has frequently started our health initiative. He is now with Fulham Foundation three days a week and feel connected with the club and society. This all came from the love of playing and Alan sums it up perfectly below.
See you at 12 o’clock for “Goals” next Wednesday – I’m really looking forward to it – There’s nothing like playing eh?
To find out more about the European Legends Programme and EFDN or to get involved please contact EFDN at (info@EFDN.org)
