The Fans Inclusion Cup
The Fans Museum Launches Fundraising Campaign for Historic Sunderland-Essen Football Initiative
The Fans Inclusion Cup: Building International Connections Through Football, Friendship and Inclusion
The Fans Museum is calling on the community, businesses and media partners to support an ambitious fundraising campaign that aims to create a lasting international legacy for Sunderland through the launch of The Fans Inclusion Cup.
This September, The Fans Hub will take 20 of its members to Essen, Germany, from 7 – 9 September, where they will participate in a football match against a team representing the city of Essen. To make this life-changing opportunity possible, The Fans Museum is seeking to raise £18,000 through a dedicated fundraising campaign.
The visit holds special significance as Sunderland and Essen have been twinned since 1949, with the trip marking an opportunity to strengthen a relationship that has existed for more than 75 years. The Fans Hub team will become the first football side to represent Sunderland in a fixture in Essen, celebrating the enduring partnership between the two cities while forging new friendships and cultural connections.
The Fans Hub supports men from across the community, many of whom face challenges including Unemployment, Social Isolation, Mental Health barriers and Neurodiversity-related difficulties. For several participants, this will be their first experience of travelling beyond the North East. The opportunity to travel internationally represents a truly life-changing experience, broadening horizons, building confidence, and creating lasting memories
The opportunity to represent Sunderland on an international stage, experience a different culture and build relationships through football will provide invaluable benefits in confidence, self-esteem and personal development.
Adding further significance to the trip is the involvement of Bobby Kerr, Sunderland AFC’s 1973 FA Cup-winning captain and the only living Sunderland captain to have lifted the FA Cup. Despite living with dementia, Bobby continues to inspire others through his commitment to The Fans Museum and The Fans Hub. His participation reflects the project’s core values of inclusion, community, friendship and creating meaningful memories through football.
Since joining The Fans Hub, many members have become ambassadors for The Fans Museum, supporting Dementia sessions and engaging with a wide range of community organisations. Their continued contribution demonstrates the transformative impact the project has had on individuals and highlights the importance of investing in community-led initiatives.
The trip also coincides with the third anniversary of The Fans Hub. In the same way that Sunderland AFC proudly represents the city around the world, The Fans Hub will carry Sunderland’s identity, heritage and community spirit to Germany.
Importantly, organisers hope this fixture will become the foundation of a long-term sporting relationship between Sunderland and Essen, with aspirations to establish an annual home-and-away competition that strengthens cultural, sporting and community ties between the two cities.
The vision extends far beyond Germany. Through the international relationships developed by The Fans Museum, future ambitions include bringing together supporters and community groups from Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for a unique international tournament inspired by Sunderland’s proud heritage and inclusive values.
This vision is The Fans Inclusion Cup – proudly #MadeInSunderland.
The Fans Museum is inviting individuals, businesses and organisations to become custodians of this vision by supporting the fundraising campaign and helping establish a dedicated trophy that will serve as a lasting symbol of the Sunderland-Essen connection.
As a small organisation, raising £18,000 represents a significant challenge. Increased awareness and publicity will play a vital role in helping the organisation reach its target, expand community engagement and turn this remarkable opportunity into reality.
Together, supporters can help create an international celebration of football, friendship and inclusion that begins with Sunderland and Essen and grows into a lasting legacy for future generations, while enhancing Sunderland’s international profile and strengthening tourism and cultural connections.
If you would like to support our fundraising campaign, we would be incredibly grateful for your donation. You can also help us by taking part in our fundraising raffles that we will be running over the next few weeks with some amazing prizes. If your business or organisation would be interested in supporting us by sponsoring or hosting a raffle card, we would love to hear from you. You can also donate to our Crowdfunder. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help make this life-changing opportunity possible for our participants.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-fans-hub-vs-essen
