Support Grassroots Clubs in Manchester AED

Manchester FA Launches 5 Point Plan

Supporting Grassroots Clubs & Leagues in Greater Manchester

Recent events with Christian Eriksen have again highlighted the need for football to work together to ensure that defibrillators are available to everyone involved in our game.

Here at Manchester FA, we are committed to ensuring that all grassroots clubs have access to a defibrillator, if the need was ever to arise.

We are aware that many of our clubs do have access through the facilities they use for both training and match days, and we would like to remind clubs to ensure they know where this important lifesaving piece of equipment is located.

We will work with those clubs that are unable to access defibrillators to develop a funding plan which will include financial support from Manchester FA, access to the FA scheme (Heart Safe Clubs) to purchase a defibrillator and free training to use the device. Where possible we will also seek additional funding from partners across the region. 

Ahead of the 2021/22 season we are sharing our 5-point plan to support our clubs. We will: 

- Complete an audit of all our Clubs and Leagues (Central Venue) to assess who has access to defibrillators. 

- Ensure our Clubs / Teams know exactly where the nearest defibrillator is located when using hired facilities.

- Work with Clubs who do not have access to a defibrillator at a facility to develop a funding plan to purchase a defibrillator, which will include financial support from Manchester FA and access to the FA scheme (Heart Safe Clubs) which offers defibrillators at a reduced price. 

- Ask that organisers of any summer festivals or tournaments held by Clubs and Leagues have access to a defibrillator and where possible ensure they have a trained paramedic (e.g. St John’s Ambulance) on site.  

- Ensure all coaches and volunteers have access to Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training and device training so that clubs know how to operate the defibrillator.