EMERGENCY RESCUE
JOHN LYONS REPORTS ON A NEW LEAGUE THAT COULD HAVE POSITIVE BENEFITS FOR ALL ITS PARTICIPANTS...
An exciting new league
LET’S be honest, we’ve probably all taken our emergency service staff in this country for granted at times. If there can be a positive from the horrible coronavirus pandemic that has caused so much sorrow up and down the land, it’s perhaps that it’s made us realise how important they really are.
That’s particularly true in the case of those NHS workers on the frontline, trying to look after those in need of critical care and, sometimes, putting themselves at risk in the process.
service, too, they all have a crucial role to play in helping society to function.
But none of them are easy jobs, there is plenty of pressure and strain on those involved.
It’s partly the reason why two colleagues in West Yorkshire Police have decided it’s time to bring service people together and give them the chance to release that stress in the best way possible – by creating The Motor Source Emergency Services Football League.
prison services are embracing the opportunity to join up, with 55 teams registering and plenty more getting in touch with the organisers.
DC Pete Overton, who has set up the
ESFL along with DC Andy Smurthwaite, said: “The league’s main aim is to increase the wellbeing amongst the hard-working emergency service workers in the UK.
“There is a clear correlation between high levels of physical activity and positive emotional wellbeing. Employees that have higher levels of emotional wellbeing are more likely to stay in work, are more productive, more tially inspire others, subsequently increasing workplace morale.”
Overton and Smurthwaite could hardly have expected their initial idea to receive such a positive response.
A total of 67 teams have registered to take part. They’ve been split into ten regional leagues with the top two from each league progressing into the knockout stages.
Overton said: “We played against Yorkshire Ambulance Service last year and afterwards Andy said ‘Why don’t we set up a league on a national scale?’. “Although we had the police details, the hard part was getting the contact details for the others. But we’ve got teams from all the services and it’s a good mix. People have said they don’t want to travel more than one-and-a-half hours, so it will be
“Teams from across the emergency services have ex pros/semi-professional players who can no longer commit to regular football.
such players. For that reason we expect the league to be of a high standard.”
He’s quick to point out too that all players will be playing in their free time or will have taken annual leave.
The league was due to begin in July, but the coronavirus crisis means some rescheduling is required. Like all leagues, organisers are awaiting approval from the FA and Sport England.
5 next year.
“We made the competition over 11 months to give us a bit of leeway,” he said. “We thought we might have problems with the weather, but we didn’t expect the coronavirus to come along.
“We’re just looking forward to seeing
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