NHS and Premier League join forces to show smoking the red card
Smokefree United is an NHS piloted scheme, which provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking.
Upon signing up to the virtual club of quitters, the members will receive weekly contact over a four week period via emails and texts, entry into competitions which gives them a chance of winning money can’t buy prizes and the chance to send the club they support to the top of the smokefree league.
Among the clubs that have pledged their support are Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Fulham and the scheme has also gained the support of John Barnes, Ian Wright, Gianfranco Zola, Andy Townsend and talkSPORT.
More than 1,500 fans have already signed up to the scheme which began in October, further verifying findings that most fans who smoke want to give up. Research has also suggested that fans are four times more likely to kick their smoking habit with support.
Martin Dockrell, research director for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), welcomed the news about the number of committed football fan quitters: “Combining quitting and football means fans could be in with a chance to do the treble this season.
If you are a smoker and you would like help and support quitting then please visit the homepage of this site or the homepage of our Hypnotherapy Directory, where you will be able to find a counsellor or hypnotherapist in your area, or to find your local NHS stop smoking service please visit the smokefree website.