A key focus of Oxfordshire FA’s (OxFA) new four-year strategy, ‘The Beating Heart of Oxfordshire Football’, is to use the power of football to support the health and wellbeing of all within our grassroots community. 

That’s why our Smokefree Sidelines initiative is so important, and we’re grateful to all of our clubs and leagues for their backing and promotion of the campaign’s message – to keep smoking and vaping away from the sidelines in youth football across the county, thus removing visible influences from the sight of young football players.

Banbury Irish are one of the clubs that have thrown their full support behind Smokefree Sidelines.

“At Banbury Irish AFC, we are keen to promote best practices for all of our teams, and we’re really keen to promote Smokefree Sidelines, as well as other wellbeing initiatives supported by Oxfordshire FA,” said Tanya Camilleri, Banbury Irish’s Welfare Officer.

Smoking remains one of the biggest killers in the UK, and often starts as a childhood addiction. Evidence has shown that adult smokers started at a young age, while it’s also been highlighted that children who grow up in a home with a smoker are three-times more likely to smoke.

This is why Smokefree Sidelines is so important.

Our campaign encourages smokers and vapers to refrain from doing so near children during training and matches. The aim isn’t necessarily to force people to quit, but to help children make informed decisions about their health/lifestyle, and have the opportunity to play football in a smoke-free environment.

If you wish to smoke at training or a match, we strongly encourage you to do so out of view of everyone.

“OxFA takes an integrated approach in providing health and wellbeing support and resources to both our League and Club Welfare Officers,” explained OxFA Chief Executive, Jonathan Duckworth. 

“Carers, parents, and guardians have a key role to play in encouraging and supporting your people by encouraging exercise and good habits. Smoking kills. It causes more preventable deaths than anything else, while vaping is highly addictive. We all hope our children can grow up safely, living healthy and active lives.

“Smoking or vaping in front of them while they are trying to stay fit and have fun playing football isn’t acceptable, and we’ll always fully support and continue to promote Smokefree Sidelines throughout Oxfordshire.”

Please click here to learn more about Smokefree Sidelines and to pledge your support.

If you’d  like help quitting, please speak to your League or Club Welfare Officer, or visit www.stopforliveoxon.org or http://www.nhs.uk/smokefree

You can also call 0800 122 3790, or text STOPOXON to 60777.