Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson visits Fit Rovers programme as part of EFL Week of Action

Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson praised the work of Club Doncaster Foundation’s Fit Rovers scheme after visiting the programme as part of the EFL Week of Action.

Sally dropped in to Fit Rovers session at the Foundation Fitness gum, where participants were discussing physical activity guidelines and diabetes awareness as part of their eight-week course.

She then visited the Veterans’ session on the stadium concourse where 47 attendees were involved in the one-hour circuit session - and she joined in herself.

Sally said: “It’s been brilliant. It’s really incredible to see the work that the Foundation do through their Fit Rovers programme and how it not just inspires people at the beginning but completely changes lives and opens up a whole new arena of exercise for people that ordinarily wouldn’t engage with it. 

“It’s fantastic that this is happening right here in Doncaster at our football club and I think we all need to be shouting about the success of Fit Rovers, the Foundation and of the Doncaster Rovers too, because they’re doing a really good job in our communities, engaging with everyone of all ages, of all abilities, and making sure that everyone feels included in exercise and in sport.”

EFL Week of Action runs from November 3-7, giving football clubs and their charity organisations to showcase how they have taken on greater importance within their communities to support health, happiness, social connections, education and economic prospects.

Sally added: “So many people don’t really know how much their local football clubs are doing.

“It’s a lot more than football, and football is incredibly important to lots of areas but there is so much more to it than that and you can see today with Fit Rovers, how many people have been inspired just to get fit and reach their potential in fitness, so we need to be shouting it from the rooftops, both here in Doncaster and across the country.”

Ross Sharp has attended Fit Rovers since 2018 and took part on more than 250 sessions.

He said: “I first attended back when the courses were in their early doors of delivery.

“It’s made a big difference to my health and wellbeing. I’ve had a few health issues since then, that had I not being coming here, they’d potentially could have been a lot worse than they actually turned out to be. 

“You do get the support when you aren’t right or you’re injured, the support is there from the staff. 

“It’s great to see Sally come down and take an interest in what’s going off in the local community, for the older generation and people that are trying to make something better of their lives. 

“It was fantastic to see her get involved, take part in a few exercises and socialise with other people in attendance.”

Interested in finding out about the Foundation’s Fit Rovers courses? Please contact fitrovers@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk.

Take a look across the Foundation’s social media channels to see what else has been covered this week through EFL Week of Action.