Active Fans

Active Fans

The Active Fans programme, which will run from January 2018 until June 2020 aims to develop a new European standard and methodology that uses football as a tool to reach men and women from 35 years and older who would like to get physically active again, make lifestyle changes and improve their diets. 

The Erasmus+ Sport funded programme, coordinated by EFDN, is being delivered in collaboration with the 9 project partners; Fulham FC Foundation, Vitesse Betrokken, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Rangers FC Foundation, Ferencváros TC, PSV Foundation, Feyenoord Rotterdam, KAA Gent and Valerenga Fotball.

Within the Active Fans programme, the participants receive the opportunity to learn about nutrition, get physically active and start to feel the benefits of weight loss and increased energy.

In recent years, a number of clubs and organisations in Europe have developed methodologies for a similar programme, promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle for that particular target group. The EFDN Active Fans programme will look to develop a common methodology which will be rolled out across Europe. A Practitioners Guide and ‘Train the Trainer’ course will be developed and made freely accessible for all organisations in Europe including local authorities, football clubs, sport clubs and sport governing bodies. The Active Fans methodology will be based on the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) methodology.

The development and optimisation of the Football Fans in Training programme was undertaken by a research team led by Glasgow University on partnership with the SPFL Trust. We gratefully acknowledge some source material from the Nutrition & Dietetic Department, NHS Forth Valley and Men’s Health Clinic, Camelon, Falkirk. The programme development is described in Gray et al (2013), the results of the programme evaluation are reported in Wyke et al (2015) and Hunt et al (2014).

The Active Fans programme will be tested in nine cities in six European countries. Every city has also its own local Healthy Football League. The Healthy Football League is an app-based competition encouraging football fans of all ages to make healthy lifestyle choices and compete against fans from other clubs. Together with their fans, the clubs strive to become the healthiest club in the city, country and Europe.

Funding Partner

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)