Drinkaware helps football fans get ‘match fit’

01 Jun 2010

Gareth Southgate kicks off charity’s 10,000 ball giveaway

As football fever sweeps the nation, alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware is giving away 10,000 free footballs to help fans be ‘match fit’ this summer.

Fronted by ex-England legend Gareth Southgate, Drinkaware’s ‘Hoof It!’ campaign and tour is encouraging football fans to get off the couch, stay active and think about how much they’re drinking during the tournament.

The 10,000 footballs carrying health facts and tips will be given away at special Drinkaware freestyle football events up and down the country. Alongside Gareth Southgate, six football legends are supporting the campaign in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Cardiff.

Drinkaware has teamed up with Powerleague to host some of the freestyle events and give away footballs. Kicking off on 7th June, the Hoof It! tour will culminate in London on Saturday 12th June as England take on the USA in their first match of the tournament.

Fans of the beautiful game can also visit the Drinkaware website at www.drinkaware.co.uk/hoofit to test their hand-eye coordination in an online footy game and try to win a Hoof It! football and match tickets to Wembley. Supporters can get tips and advice on how to stay healthy throughout the tournament plus news and video content from the football freestyle events. Each ball has a unique code with the chance to win an Xbox 360 Elite console and FIFA World Cup 2010 game.

Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says: “Even people who don’t really like football can find themselves getting caught up in the excitement of the World Cup. Watching sport and drinking alcohol often go hand in hand, so it’s really important that football fans think about how much they are drinking during the tournament. A month is a long time and if people drink excessively, either to celebrate or drown their sorrows, it can affect their health and wellbeing.

“Through the Hoof It! campaign, we want to encourage men across the UK to enjoy the World Cup but not turn into a couch potato. Playing football instead of just watching it on the TV is a great way to keep healthy – just half an hour’s casual kick-about with your mates and a Drinkaware football can burn off the calories in a pint of beer.”

Ex-England footballer, Gareth Southgate says: “Not everyone can score like Rooney or tackle like Terry but anyone can get out in their garden, local park or football pitch and have a kick about with their mates. I’ll be cheering on the England team every step of the way and as fans do the same, I’d encourage them to pace their drinking throughout the tournament by following Drinkaware’s tips and advice.”

Each of the 10,000 Hoof It! footballs given away will include one of five Drinkaware messages:
• 3-4 units per day is a man’s recommended daily guideline – it’s good to know the score
• Who ate all the pies? Two pints have the same calories as a steak pie, so get off the couch and on to the pitch!
• It takes a 12 stone man 20 minutes of playing football to work off the calories in a pint. Get fit to wear the shirt
• Prolonged heavy drinking can cause men to develop breasts, so unless you want a pair, consider missing a few rounds
• Alcohol can shrivel your tackle, so why not replace beer with a soft drink now and again? Better a soft drink than a soft...
For more information on making the 2010 summer of football one to remember, fans should go to www.drinkaware.co.uk/hoofit

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For further information, including interviews with spokespeople, please contact:

Sarah Hall or Laura Bryce at Frank PR – 020 7693 6999, drinkaware@frankpr.it

Laura Ellis at Drinkaware – 020 7766 9910, lellis@drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to Editors:
About Drinkaware:
Drinkaware provides consumers with information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Our public education programmes, grants, expert information, and resources help create awareness and effect positive change. An independent charity established in 2007, Drinkaware works alongside the medical profession, the alcohol industry and government to achieve its goals. For further information visit www.drinkaware.co.uk

About Powerleague:
Powerleague is the UK’s market leader in five-a-side football, with 44 centres across the country and over 130,000 customers per week. The company owns the World’s largest 5-a-side football centre at Trafford Park, Manchester and 5-a-side participation levels now exceed 11-a-side. A recent study by Copenhagen University stated that 5-a-side football is better for your health than going for a run or lifting weights.

For more information contact, Gillian Alexander, Head of Sponsorship & Corporate Sales on 0141-847-5566 or gillian.alexander@powerleague.co.uk

Page last updated by: Unknown, 10 May 2012.