Wexford-based grassroots club, Campile United, have secured the first Bank of Ireland Healthy Football League grassroots club title and recognition as the fittest grassroots club fans in Ireland! For the past three months, staff of the League of Ire
Wexford-based grassroots club, Campile United, have secured the first Bank of Ireland Healthy Football League grassroots club title and recognition as the fittest grassroots club fans in Ireland!
For the past three months, staff of the League of Ireland club Wexford FC have been busy behind the scenes encouraging their affiliate grassroots clubs and their wider community of fans to get active and improve their health and well-being. This approach worked very well as Wexford quickly enlisted nine local grassroots clubs to co-operate in the Healthy Football League. The well-deserved rewards came their way with Wexford winning the April monthly prize and Campile United securing the overall grassroots club prize.
The Bank of Ireland Healthy Football League saw almost 4,000 fans represent their local clubs and amass thousands of miles of healthy movement and exercise which translated as competition points for their clubs. It also provided an opportunity for grassroots clubs to partner with local League of Ireland clubs for the competition and this worked out particularly well for Campile United.
Campile United's Robin Kavanagh said: “Campile United saw the benefits of the Healthy Football League from the very start and encouraged as many people as possible to get involved. We’re delighted to now be recognised as the most active grassroots club fans in the Bank of Ireland Healthy Football League. A big thanks must also go to Wexford’s John Harpur for introducing this competition to us and inviting us to partner with Wexford FC. It has turned out to be a profitable venture for both of our clubs!”
John Harpur, Community Officer for Wexford FC, said: “A big thanks to every grassroots club in Wexford who cooperated with Wexford FC in the Healthy Football League. Hundreds of people locally participated and created a real connection to our football club. Congratulations to Campile and to everyone who helped us in this venture. I look forward to welcoming them all to Ferrycarrig Park sometime.”
The Bank of Ireland Healthy Football League is an online, app-based, competition that encourages fans of League of Ireland football clubs to exercise and to gain the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The idea behind the Healthy Football League app is to use the inherent rivalry between Irish football fans to motivate them and their friends and families to get physically active.
The initiative encouraged every member of the community to score points for their favourite club by using the app while walking, cycling, or running.
Derek O’Neill of the FAI’s League of Ireland department said: “This was the first Healthy Football League in Europe with every National League club represented. The clubs who were successful were those who engaged with local grassroots clubs in their communities. Shamrock Rovers and Wexford FC provided the best example of this approach and it was no coincidence that they were the most successful clubs in the Healthy Football League programme. People have made huge efforts to support their local clubs while at the same time enjoying the benefits of a more active lifestyle. Huge credit must go to Bank of Ireland for their support in enabling League of Ireland clubs to forge closer links in local communities and facilitating an opportunity for thousands of people to get more active.”
Wayne O’Connor, Branch Manager, Bank of Ireland Wexford concluded: “Bank of Ireland was delighted to be involved in such a positive initiative in Wexford and indeed, all over Ireland which impacted on the health and well-being of many communities. I’m also delighted that our local clubs, Wexford FC and Campile United did so well as did many other local grassroots clubs in Wexford. Hopefully, everyone who participated will continue those new healthy habits throughout the summer and beyond and enjoy the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle.”
While this season’s competition has concluded, anyone can still download the app free of charge to track their own fitness progress. Simply download and sign up to your favourite club! For more information on how the Healthy Football League works, see www.healthyfootballleague.com
