St Pat’s running health and wellbeing pilot initiative
By Hayden Moore
ST PATRICK’S Athletic are running a health and wellbeing pilot initiative to encourage supporters and the wider community to make healthier choices.
Through the virtual six-week programme, 20-25 individuals will be taking part in pre-season with St Pat’s as they gear up for a return to action in the League of Ireland.
St Patrick’s Athletic are running a pilot health and wellbeing initiative for supporters and the wider community
The team behind the initiative came up with the idea in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased importance of health.
“Basically, we have three main pillars – health, education and community – and we would be gearing up for a year of activity around now,” St Patrick’s Athletic Community Officer, David Morrissey told The Echo.
“It looks like we’re not going to have any face-to-face activities so we started to think about what needs people have this time of year.
“People are isolated, January means people are usually trying to join the gym and St Pat’s are coming into pre-season.
“So it was about trying to link them together targeting not only fans, but the community as well.”
Set up in a group support setting, the participants will take part in one-to-one conversations with each other, with strength and conditioning coach Sean Fogarty, supporter and volunteer Rob Cullen and community officers David Morrissey and Niall Cully to monitor their individual goals along the way.
Alongside a life coach being on hand from Dublin South City Partnership, Saints players will also check in for a weekly meeting and support the participants.
“People aren’t free to move around as much as they would be and the first team head coach, Stephen O’Donnell has been great with the players in terms of community outreach over the past year,” Morrissey continued.
“So we’re going to have a player each week on talking to the participants to share some tips around health and wellbeing and nutrition.
“What a football club is, is people with shared interests coming together for a common goal.
“The fans would typically be up in the terrace supporting the players, now the players are supporting the fans.
“We are a football club, but we also pride ourselves on supporting the surrounding community and this is part of that.”
Weekly healthy recipes and fitness activities are provided, and a six-week commitment is required from individuals choosing to take part.
Within 24 hours of announcing the programme, the club received a great response from people registering their interest.
Health and Wellbeing: Pre-Season with St Pat’s kicks off on Monday, February 1.
Despite the programme being full, the club will be posting updates and activities on social media for people to follow along.
For further information, contact: david.morrissey@stpatsfc.com
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