In April, almost 90 clubs from eight countries got up close and personal with ECA executives to hear updates and insights during the latest round of ECA Club Meet Ups.
The rolling programme of outreach and knowledge sharing that are the ECA Club Meet Ups is proving ever more crucial as the ECA Family continues to grow, having passed the 620-club mark.
Clubs from Albania, Ireland, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, Luxembourg, and Hungary gathered to hear the latest updates from the ECA Administration and gain insights into ECA's mission, governance structure and services.
The ECA Club Meet Up initiative, led by ECA’s Membership Department, aims to be a catalyst for positive change, bringing clubs together, regardless of their size or background.
Jérémy Cottino, ECA Membership Project Leader, said: “Having passed 620 clubs, our Meet Ups are becoming ever more vital to connect clubs and ensure ECA is visible and on hand to provide updates on key developments within European football, but also to hear the clubs’ specific concerns and challenges.
“The ECA Club Meet Ups are key to our mission of being at the Heart of Football and ensure clubs feel part of the Association.The club visits showcase our unity and inclusivity. We want to reach all clubs across Europe, empower them and foster connections to help ensure a brighter future for club football in Europe and worldwide.”
The visit to Luxembourg and Serbia was particularly significant, as it was ECA's first visit to these countries and marked the milestone of 100% market membership. The ECA Family now includes 18 countries across the 55 UEFA nations with 100% market representation: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, France, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Scotland, Slovenia, Türkiye, Czechia, Serbia, and Greece.
Clubs involved this month included:
Luxembourg - CS Fola Esch, F91 Diddeleng, FC Differdange 03, FC Mondercange, FC Progrès Niederkorn, FC Swift Hesperange, FC UNA Strassen, FC Wiltz 71, Marisca Mersch, Racing FC Union Luxembourg, UN Käerjéng 97, Union Titus Pétange.
San Marino - SP Cailungo, AC Juvenes-Dogana, SS Murata, SS Folgore, FC Domagnano, SC Faetano, SP Tre Penne, FC Fiorentino, La Fiorita 1967, SS Cosmos, SS San Giovanni, AC Libertas, SS Tre Fiore.
Spain - Club Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad, Girona FC, Cadiz CF, Getafe CF, Rayo Vallecano, RCD Mallorca, Athletic Club, Villarreal CF, Valencia CF, Deportivo Alavés, Sevilla FC, Real Betis Balompié, UD Las Palmas, Granada CF, UD Almería, Real Celta de Vigo, Real Zaragoza, RCD Espanyol.
Serbia - FK Crvena Zvezda, FK Radnički Niš, FK Čukarički, FK IMT Beograd, FK Javor-Matis, FK Napredak, FK Novi Pazar, FK Radnik Surdulica, FK Voždovac, FK Vojvodina, FK Spartak Subotica, TSC Backa Topola, FK Mladost Lučani.
Albania - FK Partizani, Egnatia, Kükesi.
Ireland - Cork City FC, Derry City FC, Drogheda United FC, Dundalk FC, Saint Patrick's Athletic FC, Shamrock Rovers FC, Shelbourne FC, Sligo Rovers FC.
Northern Ireland – Cliftonville FC, Coleraine FC, Crusaders FC, Dungannon Swifts FC, Glenavon FC, Glentoran FC, Larne FC, Linfield FC, Loughall FC.
Hungary – Debreceni VSC, Kisvárda FC, Újpest FC, Diósgyőri VTK, MTK Budapest FC, Szeged, Puskás Akadémia FC, ZTE FC, Ferencvárosi TC.
Working groups meet
April also saw the Commercial & Innovation Working Group meet in Switzerland on 3 April, while the Men’s Football Working Group met, also in Switzerland, on 30 April.
General Assembly date set
The next ECA General Assembly will take place in Athens on 8-10 October 2024.
ECA invites all football stakeholders and enthusiasts to follow the ECA Club Meet-up series closely and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WeAreECA.