Professional Sports Clubs

A remarkable meeting was held at the home of Leicester Tigers on Friday 19 October 2001 when representatives of 12 of the regions professional sports clubs put aside their sporting rivalries to discuss how they could work together to further raise the profile of sport both regionally and nationally. During the last few weeks a joint East Midlands Sport Board/Sport England initiative had been held to ascertain from the clubs the size and effect of their community programmes. The findings show how their combined activities are making a big impact on the region. The 12 clubs were selected on the basis of criteria on the size of their business and their participation in the top league of their respective sports.

The three football clubs (Derby County, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest), the four county cricket clubs (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire), the rugby clubs (Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints), the basketball clubs (Derby Storm and Leicester Riders) and Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Club have a major effect on the region's economy and regularly attract 150,000 spectators, have a turnover of £50m a year and employ over 2,000 people. One hundred and seventy five thousand people a year participate in their community programmes, 5,000 youngsters are in academies and 45 full-time equivalent staff are employed in the programmes.

Andy Reed, the Chair of the East Midlands Sport Board and MP for Loughborough said that "that is the first time the major professional sports clubs in the region have been brought together and I am delighted that so many senior people from the clubs gave up their time to attend the meeting. I know from first hand experience from the success of the clubs in Leicester, the very positive effect sport can have on the well-being of the community and East Midlands Sport wish to work with them to raise further the profile of sport". Chris Heaton-Harris MEP, also a member of the Board, considered that "the business of sports clubs was very significant and impacted greatly on economic development, social inclusion and education. The Board wanted to help the clubs to further explore their potential."

The clubs agreed to co-operate on a joint statement against racism and to consider opportunities for their increased involvement in education initiatives. The East Midlands Development Agency, also present at the meeting, are planning a Business of Sport Cluster to look at opportunities for regional economic growth through sport. Sport England agreed to keep clubs informed of funding streams into which they could tap, in order to expand and improve their community work.

For further information please contact Colin Dyson on 0115 9823604