EIGHT CLUBS SHORTLISTED FOR THE ECA CSR AWARD 2018

EIGHT CLUBS SHORTLISTED FOR THE ECA CSR AWARD 2018

The European Club Association (ECA) has announced that eight clubs have been shortlisted for the ECA Best Community & Social Responsibility Programme (CSR) Award 2018. The winner will be announced at the ECA Awards ceremony on the occasion of the 21^st General Assembly in Split on 10^th September 2018.

The winners of the ECA Awards are announced every year at the occasion of the September ECA General Assembly. As in the past, the ECA CSR Award 2018 is awarded to an ECA Member Club with a club-driven project (a project initiated by the club, not a third party project in which the club participated), which:

• aims at supporting/helping the local community by facing/tackling specific regional problems/issues
• is clearly more a project than an event, showing continuity and sustainability
• leads to positive results benefiting the local community where the club has its roots
• can serve as best practice for all ECA Member Clubs

The eight shortlisted projects for the ECA CSR Award 2018:

Apollon Limassol FC (CYP) –“Together we can achieve more”

The project aims at preventing racism and discrimination across Cyprus, encouraging equal opportunities and respectful behaviour.

Chelsea FC (ENG) – “Say No to Antisemitism”

The campaign aims to send a strong message that Chelsea FC is proud to be a club for everyone, including the Jewish community, and that it has a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism in all its forms.

FC Schalke 04 (GER) – “04 spielt die Musik”

The project aims at providing musical and cultural education to refugees and children from underprivileged districts of the city.

Ferencvárosi TC (HUN) – “Fradi Fair Play Committee”

The Fradi Fair Play Committee was established with the objectives to promote fair play values to club staff and fans.

Feyenoord Rotterdam (NED) – “Fancoachproject”

The project uses ‘Fancoaches’ to offer supporters between the ages of 12 and 23 a helping hand in the social field, encouraging good behaviour and positive lifestyles.

KAA Gent (BEL) – “Revitalizing New Ghent”

The project aims at strengthening the local community surrounding the stadium through the implementation and management of new social and economic initiatives.

Manchester City – ”City Stars Literacy Programme”

The project uses football, the club and players to inspire and engage children (aged 9-10) across the Manchester area in literacy activities.

Vålerenga IF (NOR) – “Vålerenga Gatelag”

The club set up a street football team for drug abusers, providing a platform for physical activity, social development and inclusion.

The winner will be chosen by the independent ECA CSR Award Jury 2018, consisting of:

• Peter Gilliéron (UEFA ExCo Member & Chairman of the UEFA Fair Play & Social Responsibility Committee)
• Hubert Rovers (European Football for Development Network, EFDN)
• Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen FC, Winner of the ECA CSR Award 2017)

Since the existence of the ECA CSR Award in 2010, multiple EFDN members already won the prestigious award. Hapoel Tel Aviv won in 2010, Celtic FC in 2011, Shakhtar Donetsk in 2012 and in 2016 the ”PSV United” programme of PSV Eindhoven, was voted as best CSR programme. Last years edition was won by Aberdeen FC with their ”Dementia Friendly Wellbeing” project. With seven EFDN members amongst the eight nominees, there is a good chance that this year’s winner will again be a club that is part of the EFDN.