Together with its 72 Member Clubs, the English Football League (EFL) has been awarded the ‘Best Sports Governing Body Initiative’ at the Sports Business Awards 2021, for the incredible collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic!
At the beginning of October, it was announced that the EFL had been shortlisted for two coveted prizes, which recognise and reward achievement by the teams behind the scenes that facilitate sporting excellence and endeavours.
When the 2019/20 season was suspended in March 2020 due to the outbreak of coronavirus, and a national lockdown imposed on the United Kingdom, EFL Clubs and their Club Community Organisations (CCOs) came together to collectively show that, even when there is no football to be played, it remains at the heart of communities.
Many opened their doors to key workers, offering space and facilities in stadiums for much-needed testing and accommodation. In addition, Clubs have since delivered thousands of items of PPE equipment and prescriptions to the elderly and vulnerable, as well as hundreds of thousands of food parcels to those in need.
“This was quite simply a fantastic response by the football Clubs in the EFL to help their communities,” said the judges. “It set the example for other sporting Clubs to step up, especially higher up the football pyramid.
“Really establishing the EFL as the champion of Clubs at the heart of the community, this range of initiatives during the pandemic shifted the narrative from sport to support in some cases survival and the EFL and its Clubs should be very highly commended.
“Outstanding work during the pandemic, with remarkable range of help and support delivered to so many.”
The EFL also claimed silver in ‘Best Covid-19 Response by a Sport’.
A huge congratulations to all of our Clubs and Club Community Organisations for their incredible efforts during the pandemic.
To find out more about the remarkable work carried out by Clubs and CCOs in their respective communities, please visit the EFL Trust's official website here.