Yorkshire club well ahead of nearest League One rivals
Leeds United fans are helping the club run away with the League One title in the Smokefree United League. As fans of other clubs struggle to kick the habit, Leeds fans are leading the way in showing smoking the red card.
Today, as the latest standings in the Smokefree United League are announced, it’s revealed that 66 Whites fans have signed for Smokefree United to quit smoking. This leaves them well ahead of their nearest rivals Southampton who have 16 supporters signed up.
Smokefree United is a virtual club of quitters that provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking through a dedicated website: www.nhs.uk/smokefreeunited.
Paul Lambert, talkSPORT quitting adviser and Advanced Health Improvement Specialist (Tobacco Control) for NHS Leeds, says: “It is fantastic to see that not only is the football club doing well in League One but that the fans are making sure that Leeds United are sitting pretty at the top of the Smokefree United League. I would like to encourage all Leeds United fans who want to quit the habit to sign up and also ensure that their team stays on top of the league.
“I would also like to remind fans that you’re up to four times more likely to stop smoking successfully with NHS Support.
Launched in October by the NHS and supported by the Premier League and football legends Ian Wright, Gianfranco Zola, John Barnes and Andy Townsend, more than 1,500 fans have already signed up. In addition to quitting advice and entry into competitions to win money can’t buy prizes, footballers and fans that sign up boost their team’s position in the Smokefree United League.
talkSPORT host and former professional footballer Andy Townsend adds: “I’d encourage all football fans and players who have thought about quitting to sign for Smokefree United. Quitting smoking will have a huge impact on your game and you’ll immediately become more competitive on the pitch because your cardiovascular fitness will improve.
“Those who’ve signed for Smokefree United are there to motivate each other when the going gets tough, to celebrate the success of staying off the fags, and they can also count on supportive messages from Ian Wright!”
For help quitting, visit the Smokefree United website at www.nhs.uk/smokefreeunited or call the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline on 0800 917 0492. Smokefree United is open until 20 December 2009.
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Leeds United running away with the Smokefree United league
Leeds United running away with the Smokefree United league
23 November 2009
