Nine clubs share best practices for Community Champions League

Project managers and community coaches of the EFDN member clubs NAC Breda, Feyenoord, Aberdeen FC, Chelsea FC, Club Brugge, SV Werder Bremen, Vålerenga Fotball, Ferencvarosi TC and SL Benfica met in Budapest to discuss the project delivery of the Community Champions League.

The Community Champions League is a social street football competition organised in the local communities of each of the collaborating member clubs, involving children from age 7 to 15. The teams play against other neighbourhood or school teams within their city but with the aim of promoting social cohesion. Teams and their supporters can earn additional points through fair play, open-minded support of opponents and making positive contributions within their own communities.

On the first day of the meeting, the programme partners from 8 different European countries summarised the current state of their project implementation and presented best practices, partnerships and next steps. The clubs mentioned, for example, a strategic focus, close cooperation with schools, matchday info sheets and communication through newsletters as success factors in the first delivery phase. Afterwards, the staff members discussed the Community Champions League point system and the challenges that they experienced in the first months. To conclude the first day, the clubs shared ideas for the European Community Champions League Festival in 2021.

On the second day, the group talked about the delivery of NOVIS workshops within the Community Champions League programme. Finance, dissemination, monitoring & evaluation, and communication were also on the agenda. The rankings and more information on the Community Champions League will be published soon. The programme partners meet again in March 2020 in Breda, The Netherlands.

Start your own local Community Champions League

The winners of the Community Champions League are masters of fostering social cohesion in their treasured communities. If you have the desire to create your own Community Champions League within your club’s organisation, EFDN will support you with a free, club-specific Community Champions League logo, your own dedicated website and the opportunity to participate in the European Community Champions League Festival in 2021.

EFDN is happy to assist your club with setting up your own Community Champions League. You can download a programme draft guide from our Online Learning Platform. Please contact us by sending an email to info@efdn.org,