2024 #MorethanFootball Award

2024 #MorethanFootball Award

The goal of the More than Football Award is to honour the best social initiatives in Europe delivered by a European Club, League or FA by celebrating the work they do on and off-pitch on a local, national and international levels. We will hand out the Award for the best project promoted during the 22nd EFDN Conference in November, which will be assessed not only on the quality of the project but also on the level of promotion and engagement. The 2024 #Morethanfootball Award is powered by Musco Lighting.

The winner of the 2024 #MorethanFootball Award will not only receive recognition for having implemented the most innovative and impactful Community and Social Responsibility programme in European football, but they will also win a complete Mini-Pitch System™ modular sports solution. The club-branded mini-pitch will be developed in partnership with the winning organisation, EFDN and Musco.

During the 20th Conference in Athens, the winner of the #Morethanfootball Award 2023 has been handed over to Fundacja Legii, the Foundation of Legia Warsaw.

The foundations of the following clubs were announced on the shortlist and thus compete for the 2023 Award and the club-branded Mini-Pitch by Musco Lighting.

CRITERIA FOR THE MORE THAN FOOTBALL AWARD:

  • The project needs to be promoted by the club, league or FA during the More than Football Action Weeks.
  • The project needs to be delivered by the club, league or FA and cannot be an external initiative that is supported by the club, league or FA.
  • The project must have a proven positive impact in the community.
  • The project can be replicated by different sized clubs, leagues and FAs in Europe.
  • To apply you need to be an EFDN member

AWARD SCHEME 2024

18.03.2024 – Start of the application period 

30.04.2024 – End of the application period

14.11.2024 – More than Football Award ceremony during 22nd EFDN Conference

MORE THAN FOOTBALL AWARD 2023

The project #ReadyToHelp Refugees from Ukraine” is a humanitarian initiative which was launched in response to the war in Ukraine and the influx of refugees into Poland, particularly Warsaw. The project’s main objectives include providing essential support to Ukrainian refugees, supplying basic necessities to those who remained in Ukraine, raising awareness about the war’s causes, and offering normalcy to displaced children and mothers.

The project also includes educational and integration activities for children and mothers, fostering a sense of belonging in the new country. The Legia Foundation has also facilitated the relocation of the Ukrainian youth rowing team and provided training for their staff.

MORE THAN FOOTBALL AWARD 2022

Within just two days of the first lockdown, Northampton Town FC Community Trust developed a project set out to support older fans who may be at risk of loneliness or isolation brought about by COVID and government lockdowns. The project has supported 1210 people aged 50+ to reduce feeling of loneliness and improve their mental health and well-being.

The impact it has been made is wide-reaching, the caste study video of Audrey outlines one of many stories of impact they have made where the project has reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation, helped develop new friendships and improve people’s mental health and well-being.

MORE THAN FOOTBALL AWARD 2021

Big Hearts Community Trust, the foundation of Heart of Midlothianwon the More than Football Award 2021 powered by Musco Lighting for ‘The Big Hearts Supporters’ Movement’. Heart of Midlothain became the third European football club to win the award, after Club Brugge won the second one at the 16th EFDN Conference in Breda in November 2021 for ‘The Bear and his Scarf’ and the Shakhtar Donetsk Social Foundation who won the first at the 13th EFDN Conference in Barcelona in November 2019 for their “Come On, Let’s Play” project.

EFDN members chose the winner during the 16th EFDN ‘#Morethanfootball’ Conference, the largest gathering of CSR-experts in European football. The goal of the More than Football Award is to honour the best social initiatives in Europe delivered by a European Club, League or FA.

Big Hearts Supporters are a leading light in Scottish football and remain at the centre of everything that Big Hearts does. On average every year, they contribute to more than 4,000 hours of meaningful support changing the lives of hundreds of vulnerable adults and children. In 2020 amidst the pandemic, over 145 brand-new Big Hearts Supporters stepped up to volunteer with us. In the first six months of lockdown, our charity had supported 8,000 vulnerable people – three times more than in the previous 12 months. The determination and kindness from Hearts fans enabled them to create new initiatives, where volunteers could get involved safely whilst providing vital support to groups most at risk of Covid-19.

  • 2,000+ welfare phone calls to older people isolated in their homes. One of the volunteers involved was the Head coach of the Heart of Midlothian Women’s Team.
  • 138,000+ packed meals prepared for homeless groups in Edinburgh.
  • 4,100+ printed reminiscence parcels for fans living with dementia.A new team of Gazette contributors was set up to write inspiringstories and recollections from good old days.
  • 1,200+ tailored presents donated and distributed for Christmas.
  • 400+ hours of peer support to fans via video chats. 5 of the most popular Hearts’ podcasts decided to open Zoom calls to fans for a chance to speak together twice a week during lockdown.