Middlesbrough will be recognised and celebrated in Parliament for their outstanding community work having been named Yorkshire & North East Checkatrade Community Club of the Year as part of the 2018 EFL Awards.
Following the exceptional work of the MFC Foundation, the Club will be joined alongside five other EFL regional winners at the House of Commons on Monday 12 March to receive their awards with EFL Chairman Ian Lenagan, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch and host Colin Murray all confirmed to take the stage at the event.
Middlesbrough will then be put forward alongside the five other regional winners for the 2018 Checkatrade Community Club of the Year Award, which will be announced at the EFL Awards on Sunday 15 April in central London.
MFC Foundation impressed the judges with their project Stepping Up, a transition based programme helping young children with the move from primary to secondary education. The initiative has provided invaluable help for children with 88% saying they are no longer worried about the transition because of the programme.
CEO of Middlesbrough FC, Neil Bausor, said:
“Our relationship with the community is something we see as an important part of the fabric of Middlesbrough Football Club. We believe that we have a responsibility to the people of the region. Our Foundation is at the heart of that and does a terrific job in so many different aspects, and with such diverse groups. Our football management and players all buy into the community ethos of the club, and that is reflected in their enthusiastic support and active involvement in the work we do.”
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said:
“EFL Clubs are based in the heart of communities up and down the country, often in some of the most disadvantaged areas. It’s important that we recognise the Clubs that have gone that extra mile to make a real difference to the community they represent which is why the announcement of the Checkatrade Community Club of the Year regional winners is a fitting tribute to the excellent and innovative work that takes place.
“I’m proud to say that all Clubs, not just the winners, are at the forefront of helping to tackle some of the biggest issues in society by using the power of the Club badge.
“In 2018 we celebrate 10 years of the EFL Trust and in the past decade our Clubs have played an instrumental part in transforming their local community, from helping to reduce crime, improving health and inspiring education. Hundreds of thousands of people have been, and will continue to be, positively influenced by the work undertaken in this area 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
The EFL received strong submissions from a wide range of Clubs with the panel marking the applications on social impact and their showcase projects.
The six regional winners were selected by an independent judging panel including, The Times’ Chief Football Writer, Henry Winter, Team Leader for Faith Engagement, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Hilary Patel, Director of CSR at The PFA, John Hudson, Sky Sports’ Michael Weightman and the EFL Trust Director of Operations, Mike Evans.
For more information regarding the 2018 EFL Awards, visit: www.efl.com