Andy Townsend Calls For Football Fans To Kick It Together By Signing For Smokefree United

Oldham Athletic fans are kicking the habit and giving smoking the red card. As the latest standings in the Smokefree United League are announced, the Oldham Athletic players are calling for their fans to sign up to Smokefree United and help move the club up from 17^th position(With 2 quitters).

Smokefree United is a virtual club of quitters that provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking, www.nhs.uk/smokefreeunited. Launched in October by the NHS and supported by the Premier League and Football Legend's 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.

According to research conducted on behalf of the NHS, 70 per cent of all football fans in the North West who smoke want to quit. Almost half of them also play football in their spare time with cigarettes taking a heavy toll on their game. In the North West a staggering 72 percent of fans who play notice the effect of smoking before half time and almost one in three are embarrassed of wheezing in front of their team mates.

Leaders in the Smokefree United League One are Leeds United, who tops the table with 64 quitters. Southampton is also storming ahead in the quitting stakes and come in second with 18 quitters. Norwich, Brighton and Millwall are in third place with 9 quitters followed by Charlton who are in sixth place with 6 quitters.

Talk SPORT host and former professional footballer Andy Townsend said:

"I'd encourage all football fans and players who have thought about quitting to sign up to 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!"

Oldham Athletic Community Trust's Health Development Officer Dale Newton also commented:

"This campaign is another example of how football clubs can work with local fans to improve health and well-being. For all our fans out there who want to kick the habit take this opportunity to be involved in pushing for success in the Smokefree United table and also improving your health with Latics."

You're up to four times more likely to stop smoking successfully with NHS Support. For help quitting, visit the Smokefree United website at nhs.uk/smokefreeunited or call the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline on 0800 917 0492