The community network: an Aboriginal community football club bringing people together. Who or what is making the assists to score social goals?
Daniel Parnell A C and Kevin Hylton BA Business in Sport Knowledge Cluster, Centre for Business and Society, Faculty of Business and Law, Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University, M15 6BH, UK.
B Leeds Beckett University, Centre for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Cavendish Hall, Headingley Campus, Leeds, LS6 3QS, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: d.parnell@mmu.ac.uk
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(2) 69-70 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14177
Submitted: 6 December 2014 Accepted: 15 January 2015 Published: 2 September 2015
Abstract
Providing pragmatic interventions (through sport) to tackle social issues in hard-to-reach communities, including those in Aboriginal and black minority ethnic (BME) communities, this study highlights how a community football club was able to deliver positive outcomes for racism, discrimination and health. The article compares findings geographically originating from Australia with those in the UK. The program highlighted herein does not have the so-called ‘power’ and backing of a brand (of a professional football club) to rely on, and the appealing factor is football alone; football in its purest sense: the activity. We call upon those strategically placed in funding and commissioning roles to draw on the evidence base to support non-professional football (and sport and recreation) clubs to deliver on the health agenda. Adding further conclusions that this mechanism and context of delivery can support positive social and health changes, but requires further examination.
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