Northampton Town, Winner of More than Football Award 2022, opened their Mini-Pitch

Northampton Town, Winner of More than Football Award 2022, opened their Mini-Pitch

The new Northampton Town community all weather pitch by Musco Lighting at Sixfields was officially opened at Saturday’s Community Day game. The pitch, which has been built behind the LCS Commercial Dave Bowen Stand and will be open to the community, is the club’s prize for winning the More than Football Award last year. The #MorethanFootball award, powered by Musco Lighting, aims to honour the best social initiatives in Europe delivered by a European Club, League or FA by celebrating the work they do on and off the pitch on a local, national and international level.

The award was handed out during the 18th EFDN Conference in Budapest, Hungary last November, which assessed not only on the quality of the project but also on the level of promotion and engagement.

They were named in the final shortlisted clubs alongside FC Twente, Newcastle United and Athletic Club de Bilbao. The attending member clubs at the conference then voted the Northampton Town Tackling Loneliness project as the best social initiative.

The project that won the award started within two days of the first lockdown as Northampton Town FC Community Trust developed a programme set out to support older fans who may be at risk of loneliness or isolation brought about by Covid-19 and Government lockdowns. The project has supported 1,210 people aged 50 and older to reduce feelings of loneliness and improve their mental health and well being.

The impact it has made is wide reaching, as case studies show the project has reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation, helped develop new friendships and improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.

More than Football Award Winner 2023

On Tuesday the 14th of November 2023 Fundacja Legii have been announced as the winner of the #Morethanfootball Award powered by Musco Lighting. As voted by all the attending member clubs at the 20th EFDN Conference, the best social initiative delivered by a European Club, League or FA, is #ReadyToHelp Refugees from Ukraine.