EFDN and its members celebrate World Book Day

EFDN and its members celebrate World Book Day

Today is the 23rd year that there has been a World Book Day. Today children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading. The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the enjoyment of reading books, whilst providing children with the opportunity to have a book of their own. 

At EFDN we believe that football and education are the perfect combination to work in harmony to provide children with enjoyable, learning experiences. Through using the power of football, we can inspire and empower children, highlighting important messages of social inclusion and development.

Club Brugge

“De Beer and his scarf” is Club Brugge’s children’s book that not only teaches children but also teaches parents what club love is. “The book is a story about respect,” chairman Bart Verhaeghe, said. “A story for young and old that we find very valuable at Club Brugge to tell. Certainly in these turbulent football times. ”

“But much more than that, it’s a story about club love. So with a small c, “Bart Verhaeghe continued. “It’s no secret that football has a serious image problem. Racism, hooliganism, violence, … Football has the same persistent problems all over the world. ”

In addition to being a wonderful reading story for the little ones, De Beer and his scarf is actually primarily a message to the parents. The book tells the story of dad and son Beer, the mascots of Club Brugge, who go to football together for the first time. In the forest, they meet Rabbit, Little Owl, Zebra and a lot of other animals. And not coincidentally, are the mascots of other clubs. All animals wear scarves with different colors. That makes them very different, or at least they think so. Slowly and with the necessary discussions, Daddy Bear and the other animals come to realize that they have much more in common than they think. They all love football and prefer to see their own colors. And that is exactly what makes all supporters the same.

“Love for football and club colors is passed on from generation to generation,” said Bob Madou, Chief Business Officer of Club Brugge. “Certainly with the supporters of a family club such as Club Brugge. That is why we wanted to reach our supporters in their own living room instead of via a nice video or a big action in the stadium. By reading this story to children, the club wants to remind adult supporters what club love really is and that other teams are opponents, not enemies.