Cambridge United has won the inaugural Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 EFL Awards…
The Club’s CUP26 Planet Super League success - driven by the Community Trust - was the key contributing factor towards the success as United beat competition from 48 other EFL clubs to claim victory in football’s biggest-ever climate tournament.
The competition challenged clubs to appeal to its public to complete simple activities that have a positive impact on the environment. Every activity completed was worth goals and Cambridge United stormed the field to lift the trophy by scoring 7,150 goals, equating to 30,482 kg of CO2 saved – or the planting of 1,742 trees.
A panel of representatives from the media, PFA, FSA, EFL, Kick It Out and Government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities chose United as the winners with Sam Gomarsall, Ashley Dyer, Vicky Neal and Stephen Munday from Cambridge United Community Trust in attendance at Sunday night’s event to collect the award.
Sam Gomarsall, Community Trust Manager said, “We are delighted to win this award and it is fantastic recognition for the work put in by the team of staff across Club & Trust, volunteers, and all the fans that took part in the Planet Super League campaign.
"The work undertaken in this project encapsulates everything we do at the Community Trust. It highlights how, by engaging people through the power of sport and the passion that people feel for their local club, we can make a measurable, vital difference in our community. Football is such an important force in the fight for a more sustainable world and we are committed to doing precisely that!"
Ashley Dyer, Education and Skills Manager for the Trust who played a huge role in the success of the project said, "We have got so much gratitude towards the fans for the help in the way that we engaged with the project, which was all about encouraging fans to take part in environmentally sustainable activities."
Ian Mather, Cambridge United CEO added, “We have been working on measures to improve our environmental sustainability for years. This is not glamorous but it is very important. Whether it is installing energy efficient lighting, recycling whatever we can - even our grass clippings - or investing in sinking a borehole to irrigate our training pitches, we are constantly looking for ways to improve.
"This award is wonderful recognition for the Club and our staff who make sustainability part of our everyday life. I hope this award can inspire others as we can all make a difference."