Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community have claimed a hat-trick of accolades at this year’s Northwest Football Awards in recognition of their innovative campaigns and impactful community outreach work over the last 12 months.
The Club’s ‘More Than Eleven’ home, away and third kit launch activity - in collaboration with new technical partner hummel - was announced as this year’s winner of the ‘Best Club Marketing, Sponsorship or Engagement Campaign’ thanks to a campaign that went straight to the heart of the relationship between Blues and their Club. Recognising the vital role that fans play in the stadium, in the local community and internationally, the Club’s campaign used social media to interact with fans from around the world and led to the three fastest and highest selling kits in the Club’s history, breaking all previous sales records.
The Club’s kit launch activity was also successful in the ‘Kick It Out Promoting Inclusivity’ category in recognition of its inclusive and innovative 2020/21 third kit launch with hummel. The kit was exclusively revealed by players from the charity’s disability teams to help celebrate the wider Everton community and mark the 20th anniversary of Everton in the Community’s Disability programme.
Alan McTavish, Commercial Director at Everton Football Club, said: "We are delighted that these awards recognise our fan-centred approach to the three record-breaking kit launches with hummel, in our first season together. In challenging times like these, it was important that we delivered a campaign that struck the right chord with our fan base and the wider community, and that embodied our inclusive and ambitious identity as The People's Club.
“We are also delighted that hummel's support for our disability teams will continue as they sponsor coaching training opportunities for some of our disabled Everton in the Community participants. Our 2020/21 range has marked an outstanding start to our relationship, and we now look forward to building on this.”
The work of the Club’s official charity in combatting local issues and supporting those most in need was recognised as best in class across the region and crowned ‘Northwest Community Club of the Year – Premier League, in association with the PFA’, beating off competition from the likes of [Manchester] City in the Community, Manchester United Foundation, Burnley FC in the Community and LFC Foundation.
Everton in the Community was applauded for its groundbreaking work across Merseyside, with the judging panel noting that ‘the winner demonstrated an inclusive whole club approach to their community work and their Covid-19 response, together with their season-long programmes that made them a worthy winner.’
Richard Kenyon, Everton in the Community Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are truly honoured to have been voted as the Northwest’s Premier League Community Club of the Year. This award is a great tribute to our dedicated staff and volunteers who work so hard to provide valuable and much-needed support to thousands of people in our community. We also could not make anything like the impact we do without the valuable support of our partners. I’d like to thank them all for everything they do to support us and in turn make a difference to local people.”
Now in its 13th year, the Pitching In Northwest Football Awards was launched to celebrate the region’s brightest and best in the game and honours and celebrates the footballing elite, recognising excellence both on and off the field. This year’s awards took the form of a virtual ceremony to remain compatible with evolving government restrictions and saw prizes presented by recognisable names including Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of PFA, former Everton Women goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis and ex-Manchester City players Joe Hart and Shaun Goater.
Find out more about the Pitching In Northwest Football Awards here.
