The Irish FA welcomed the Football For Future organisation to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park recently to discuss sustainability in football.
The non-profit group, formed to help build an environmentally sustainable culture in football, has worked with several football clubs including Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United.
Sports Development Officers from local councils and representatives from clubs in the NIFL structures joined staff from across the Irish FA for a day long session focused on climate change, its interrelationship with football, and the role that football brands can play in tackling climate change.
Football For All Manager, Keith Gibson said: "We have just launched our first ever sustainability strategy, so this topic is high on our agenda. The advice and case studies showcased in the session demonstrated just how we can all make a difference by implementing simple changes. Our vision is to positively ‘impact every person in Northern Ireland’ and this type of advice can certainly help us do that.”
Club and Community Development Officer, Kyle Robinson, added: "It is important for clubs to think about how they adopt sustainable practices within their operations and having Football for Future share their expertise is part of this journey we're all on. Football clubs have such an important role in their local communities and have a great opportunity here to lead the way in showcasing best practice in this area as so many of them often do with other areas of work. There are plenty of ideas to take forward in adopting some simple sustainable practices through football.”
Founder of Football for Future, Elliot Arthur-Worsop commented, "At Football for Future, we are proud to work with partners who share our ambition of driving climate action. It has been a fantastic opportunity for us to collaborate with the IFA and their clubs to raise awareness of the relationship between football and climate change, and to explore ways that the Irish football ecosystem can tackle its environmental impact. Everyone in football has a position of power and responsibility to protect our planet, and we hope that our staff training workshops continue to empower the industry to do just this.”
To read the Irish FA's sustainability strategy please click here.
