Across the weekend of 3-5 February the EFL and Clubs will be backing the Green Football Weekend.
The campaign is centred on a weekend of “Greener Game” football matches and competitive activities to encourage fans and Clubs to help protect the environment.
While fans are encouraged to “score green goals” for their Club, by logging green activities, such as eating a veggie meal or opting to walk or cycle instead of driving, a number of EFL Clubs will be participating with initiatives and fan engagement events.
And a number of EFL Club captains will don special green armbands across the weekend in support of the initiative.
The campaign runs alongside the EFL Green Club scheme, which was launched in October 2021 and helps provide a framework for EFL Clubs to improve their environmental practices.
Through a partnership with Green Code, EFL Clubs can achieve Green Club accreditation and guidance on their environmental performance.
Below is a selection of activity at EFL Clubs across the Green Football Weekend:
Bristol City will be taking first team player Jay Dasilva to a local primary school to take part in an environmental focused assembly led by the Club’s community team.
Middlesbrough are conducting a boot and clothing collection at the match against Blackpool on Saturday, 4 February, with MFC Foundation recycling old boots and distributing to communities and clothing will be recycled via local charities. The Club will also plant a tree with a local school for every goal scored.
Ipswich Town will launch their partnership with the Ipswich “Clear Air Now” campaign. Read more here.
Port Vale player Funso Ojo is one of the top “goal scorers” in the Green Football Weekend tournament, while the Port Vale Foundation has been nominated for the Sport + Recreation Alliance’s “Going Green” Award.
Blackburn Rovers will be promoting sustainable options at matchday catering outlets and working with Planet League on fan and community “green goals” engagement.
Bristol Rovers will be making Saturday’s game against MK Dons a flagship “Pledgeball” match, promoting the Green Football Weekend campaign and encouraging fan engagement on “green goals” activities.
Carlisle United’s Community Trust will be running a matchday fan engagement Green Market activity showcasing local sustainable businesses and charities.
Crewe Alexandra will reveal plans on Saturday to install more than 3,000 solar panels above parking spaces on the existing car park at Gresty Road, which has the potential to make the club carbon-negative. Read more here.
Doncaster Rovers will be planting a tree locally for every child ticket purchased for the Hartlepool United game.
Sunderland’s Foundation of Light will be engaging schools and Player Development Centres with Planet League activities and challenges.
Northampton Town will be running a “green game” with fanzone activities, supporting sustainable fan travel and the introduction of recycling hot cup bins at the stadium.
Rochdale will be rewarding fans for travelling to our away fixture by public transport (Salford City), and promoting the Club’s green projects and work with the local council.
Sutton United will be focusing on fan engagement by working in schools in the lead up to Greener Football Weekend and activities for the match against Stevenage.