Cambridge United win national environmental sustainability accolade at 2022 EFL Awards
Cambridge United have been crowned the winners of the inaugural Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 EFL Awards.
The accolade was created this year to recognise a club that has developed an environmentally conscious campaign, project, or initiative.
Driven by the Cambridge United Community Trust, the U's won the CUP26 Planet Super League, beating 48 other clubs in football’s biggest-ever climate tournament
United supporters scored 7,150 'green goals', which is equal to saving 30,482kg of C02 and 1,742 trees being planted. This success has had an impact on the club and schools who are now completing their own social action projects to become more environmentally sustainable.
A panel of representatives from the media, PFA, FSA, EFL, Kick It Out and government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities chose United as the winners with Sam Gomarsall, Ashley Dyer, Vicky Neal and Stephen Munday from the Trust in attendance at Sunday night’s event to collect the award.
Sam Gomarsall, the CUCT manager said: “We are delighted to win this award and it is fantastic recognition for the work put in by the team of staff across club and Trust, volunteers, and all the fans that took part in the Planet Super League campaign.
“The work undertaken in this project encapsulates everything we do at the Community Trust. It highlights how, by engaging people through the power of sport and the passion that people feel for their local club, we can make a measurable, vital difference in our community. Football is such an important force in the fight for a more sustainable world and we are committed to doing precisely that.”
Ashley Dyer, the trust’s education and skills manager who played a huge role in the success of the project said: “We have got so much gratitude towards the fans for the help in the way that we engaged with the project, which was all about encouraging fans to take part in environmentally sustainable activities.”
Ian Mather, Cambridge United CEO added: “We have been working on measures to improve our environmental sustainability for years. This is not glamorous but it is very important. Whether it is installing energy efficient lighting, recycling whatever we can - even our grass clippings - or investing in sinking a borehole to irrigate our training pitches, we are constantly looking for ways to improve.
“This award is wonderful recognition for the club and our staff who make sustainability part of our everyday life. I hope this award can inspire others as we can all make a difference.”
Read more
Cambridge United beat Arsenal, Fulham and Aston Villa to win Planet Super League CUP26 Trophy
Cambridge United supporting twins surprised live on BBC One’s The One Show by CUP26 trophy news
