The SPL Trust’s Football Fans in Training project won a European Professional Football League (EPFL) Best Practice Award in the Social Responsibility category.   

The winner was announced at the EPFL Gala Ceremony on 7 July and the award was collected by SPL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster.

The EPFL Best Practice awards celebrate and raise awareness of the very best League initiatives in areas such as Social Responsibility, Youth Development and Communications.

Football Fans in Training is a partnership between the SPL Trust, Football Pools, and the Scottish Government to run twelve-week sessions at SPL clubs aimed at improving physical activity, diet and promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst participants.

The programme was developed and is being evaluated with academics from the Universities of Glasgow, Dundee and Strathclyde and the Medical Research Council. The sessions are run by club coaches and are aimed at men aged between 35 and 65 who meet any of the following criteria – BMI 28+, belly 100cm + or trouser waist size of 38 inches +. Over the two courses run so far, 412 men have lost 2366kg or 2.3 tonnes and 2361 cm off waistlines.

SPL Trust General Manager, Billy Singh, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious European Award. This is great recognition for all the participants and community coaches at the SPL clubs. Their dedication and hard work has been a great source of inspiration to others and I would encourage men to sign up for next season.”

Recruitment is under way for year two of Football Fans in Training. To find out more or to sign up call 0800 389 2129, text FFIT 88802 or email ffit@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk.  Act fast, as you only have till August 2011 to book your place on this award winning programme!

For further info contact Cindy Gray: 0141 330 6274 or Karen Wood: 0141 357 7521

First published: 20 July 2011