Premier League Health
The Premier League also announced in February 2009 an exciting partnership that will see top-flight football clubs help tackle the many serious health issues that men suffer.
‘Premier League Health’ is a unique £1.63m programme funded by the New Football Pools to help improve the state of men’s health, particularly in deprived areas, all over the country. Sadly, the fact remains that English males have a major problem with the poor state of their health. Men still have a lower life expectancy than women (77, compared with 81) and men have a higher incidence rate for cancers and suicide. More than 120,000 men in the UK also die prematurely each year and the simple truth is that men are far less likely to go to a GP or pharmacy than women too.
‘Premier League Health’ aims to tackle these facts head on.
Premier League clubs will work with local health agencies such as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to engage over 4,000 men in the project. Each club will look to tackle those issues that are particularly relevant in their area. For example, Blackburn Rovers will target men of South Asian heritage in an area where residents are 45 percent more likely to die before reaching 75 than the national average; Newcastle United will recruit two Health Trainers to work in the west end of the city specifically aiming to recruit fathers accompanying their children to Newcastle United Foundation events that are run in the area.
Launching the project at Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said:
“Premier League clubs have shown in recent years the diverse range of issues that they can tackle through the extensive work they do in their communities. Many already partner with their local Primary Care Trusts, using the interest that people have in the club to help improve their health. In fact, almost 90,000 people took part in health-specific activities at our clubs last season.
“Only a few years ago football clubs were viewed solely as teams that competed on the pitch every weekend. A modern day Premier League club does far more than that. They now employ hundreds of staff dedicated solely to running an array of community-focused projects that are having an enormous impact. I am sure ‘Premier League Health’ will go on to do the same.”
Professor Alan White of Leeds Metropolitan University, the world’s first Professor of Men’s Health, sits on the steering group of ‘Premier League Health’. He said:
“The men this partnership is aimed at are a generation that have very few services specifically designed for them, yet face some of the greatest health challenges both now and throughout their lives.
“Using Premier League clubs sends a very clear message to these men that their health and wellbeing matters, that thought has gone into using locations that they will enjoy being in, and that they are valued.”
Then Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo attended the launch. She added her support saying:
“What is clear is that people don’t necessarily listen to health living advice, because it depends on who is giving that advice. Who are the trusted messengers?
“The role that the Premier League can play with initiatives like this is so important. It’s a real honour to be able to support ‘Premier League Health’ and work towards a lasting legacy in helping all of our communities to live long and healthy lives.”
The men this partnership is aimed at are a generation that have very few services specifically designed for them, yet face some of the greatest health challenges both now and throughout their lives. - Professor Alan White, Leeds Metropolitan University
