Smokefree United is a virtual club of quitters – supported by John Barnes, Ian Wright, Gianfranco Zola, Andy Townsend, talkSPORT and the Premier League – that provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking.

On signing up quitters will receive regular weekly contact over a four week period via supportive emails and texts, and the chance to send the club you support to the top of the Smokefree League.

Many Premier League clubs have pledged their support to this campaign and also run their own men's health initiatives, as listed below.

Premier League Clubs Supporting Smokefree United

Manchester United

'Something to Chew On' sees The Manchester United Foundation partner with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to improve young people's understanding of what constitutes healthy eating and a healthy diet, as well as developing their knowledge of food safety. A crucial part of the project is increasing young people's uptake of physical activity and involving parents in the programme. As well as fun, interactive classroom sessions, the programme also aims to motivate children to be active with practical sessions covering football, fitness and controlling body movement.

Tottenham

The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation (THF) is currently delivering a number of health related programmes. One of these programmes, 'Healthy Family', is an outreach education intervention which focuses on obesity, oral health and physical activity. As part of their overall health offer THF has also sent a number of their coaches on smoking cessation training courses, allowing them to help individuals from both the 'Healthy Family' and other health related programmes to give up smoking.

Under the umbrella of 'Healthy Family' an additional programme, 'Premier Health' focuses on men's health and is aimed at helping to tackle a number of key areas within men's health such as smoking and obesity.

Sunderland

Sunderland AFC Foundation's 'Fit for Football' scheme uses football coaching to deliver active sessions aimed at helping people give up smoking, deal with health inequalities and providing positive messages about healthy eating and general well-being. They also help educate families about the dangers of smoking, having a healthy diet, importance of exercise and how to improve self-esteem and confidence through their 'Family Learning through Football Fitness' programme.

Hull City

Hull City are launching a men's health programme in October aimed at improving the health and well-being of men aged 18-39. They aim to reduce the number of men smoking through smoking cessation seminars and guidance will be given to those determined to stop, with tailored services for more difficult cases.

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers are involved in two men's health initiatives that partly aim to stop people smoking. The first is the new 'Ahead of the game' campaign which aims to raise the awareness of, amongst others, lung cancer through the power of football. They also take part in the 'Premier Health' initiative which aims to help improve the state of men's health by encouraging healthy lifestyles and offering advice on quitting smoking.

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers' Football in the Community is launching a new Premier League Health project, which will run for three years and specifically aims to help local men lead more fit and healthy lifestyles. Men will be given advice on the dangers of smoking and a poor diet and what help is available to kick the habit and improve their diet.

Fulham

Fulham Football Club Foundation will be targeting men in the Lambeth area as part of their Premier Health project. They hope to use football as a mental well-being enhancement tool and increase access to statutory health care. They will focus on three main areas of concern; substance misuse, including smoking, nutrition, and sexual health through issue based workshops.

Liverpool

Liverpool Football Club (LFC) manages extensive healthy living programmes: Healthy Stadia (focussing on fans, visitors and employees), European Healthy Stadia (a network of 150 venues sharing good practice), Truth 4 Youth assemblies that include health messages and the Action 4 Health programme which includes the Premier League Men's Health and Extra Time programmes. As well as health promotion, the latter three programmes include one-on-one health checks which are directly linked to pathways to assist people to make lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation. There are also 4 health information kiosks in community centres. LFC works closely with partners in the Primary Care Trust, Liverpool City Council, Premier League, Heart of Mersey and local community groups to ensure that the most appropriate help is on offer.