Amateur football club supported by University researchers to measure carbon emissions.

As the world looks to the professional football game to step up their net zero ambitions, one amateur football club in Leicester is flying under the radar.

In a ground breaking partnership, Leicester Nirvana, the trailblazing amateur football club based in Leicester, has collaborated with a Dr and student from De Montfort University (DMU) to pioneer the measurement and output of carbon emissions by the club.

This pioneering initiative, said to be a national first for an amateur football club, holds incredible value for Nirvana, as it guides them on their path to achieving their Net Zero goal.

Leading this remarkable effort is Dr. Leticia Ozawa-Meida, a senior research fellow at DMU, supported by MSc student Wilfor Zuluaga and Ivan Liburd from Nirvana. The team worked closely to comprehensively assess emissions across all facets of the club's operations, ranging from the energy usage in their clubhouse to the transportation habits of players and their families. This rigorous study is a vital component of the clubs Net Zero Football Project, and has generated findings that can serve as a model for similar assessments in other amateur sports clubs across the country and the world.

Ivan Liburd, Club Trustee and sustainable development goals volunteer, emphasised, "This initiative plays a pivotal role in our quest for Net Zero emissions, underscoring our dedication to environmental responsibility and setting a powerful example for our community. We are wholeheartedly committed to this project, as it perfectly aligns with our Net Zero objectives. The collaboration with DMU has been seamless, and it marks a significant stride toward a sustainable future.

The success of this project bolsters our belief that we can attain our Net Zero targets. As we move forward, we plan to expand similar initiatives and continue our journey toward reducing our carbon footprint."

Dr Ozawa-Meida, a Senior Research Fellow at DMU, said: “The results of the carbon footprint show that the largest sources of emissions of Leicester Nirvana relate to energy use, gas and electricity (70%), followed by the emissions related to travel of players and families to the matches (27%), and in less extent to emissions due to water use, waste generated and procurement of players uniforms (3%).”

By becoming, what may be the first club to comprehensively review their emissions, Nirvana has added another feather to its cap, emphasizing its commitment to making a difference. The club has also forged partnerships with the United Nations Football for the Goals campaign and garnered awards for its contribution to football.

It's worth highlighting that Leicester Nirvana, are the only amateur football club in the UK to have developed a partnership with DMU and the United Nations via their Sustainable Development Goals Academic Impact Hub based in Leicester. The partnerships main goal is to support Nirvana to become Britain's first Net Zero amateur football club, a historic milestone in their journey towards sustainability.

To share their remarkable findings, Dr Ozawa-Meida and Ivan Liburd from Nirvana presented the results of the emissions testing at a free event that took place at the Leicester Business Festival, aptly named "Green Goals." The event brought together local businesses, clubs, and organisations within the sports sector and connected them with the pioneering work being developed and delivered by De Montfort University in pursuit of the Net Zero agenda.

In October, England Football Promoted Leicester Nirvana on their social platforms as part of Black History Season.

Representing more than 50 nations, Leicester Nirvana Fc have been volunteering & supporting the community for over 40 years.

From U6s through to our senior first team, we cater for all ages, & are developing our women's & girls' offering with local groups.

We are Nirvana.

#BlackHistoryMonth

Leicester Nirvana has been shortlisted for The Sporting Equals Awards 2023 in the following category: Sport England - Community Project of the Year. This award recognises a project/ organisation that has developed and delivered interventions in the past 12 months and has demonstrated a significant impact to increasing participation amongst ethnically diverse communities.

Use the link below to vote for us https://sportingequalsawards.org.uk/#vote

Leicester Nirvana are holding a football festival to celebrate and create opportunities for women and girls to play football. 

If you are a beginner, have been playing for years, looking to be more involved in women and girls football, interested in volunteering or you just want to have a fun day, this event is for you. 

Continuing the great spirit and achievements of the England women's team in both the European championships and the world cup, we want to encourage more women and girls to take part in the game. 

The event will take place on Saturday 16th September, from 11am to 3pm at Hamilton Park, 100 Sandhills Avenue, Leicester LE5 1LU. Everyone is welcome, women and girls, family members, there will be something for everyone. 

The event is a collaboration between Leicester City in the Community, The FA (England Football), Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, Rara Avis FC, Active Women and Leicester Nirvana. 

Activities on the day will include;

• Football taster training sessions for beginners and intermediate/ above,

• Small sided football games.

• Inflatable football activities.

• Penalty shootouts.

• Mini tournament,

• Giveaways.

• Food and drink available to buy on the day,

• Information to promote football pathways for women and girls, such as Coaching, FA Level 1 courses, Refereeing and more,

A consultation to better understand how football clubs can develop their women and girls offer further, including physical building space/ changing rooms to better meet the needs of women and girls.

There will be opportunities to talk to the club and the FA about volunteering or playing options, take part in one of the physical activities, be involved in a game or training session or just enjoy the atmosphere on the day. 

If you would like to be involved in the day to support, promote services, or anything else. Please let us know. 

We look forward to seeing you on the day. 

Nirvana FC prides itself on building a space for the community but has been left frustrated.

Nirvana FC's spectator stands were covered in spray paint after vandals snuck into the fenced-off area in Hamilton Park, overnight.

A community-led football club has been left "disheartened" after vandals covered its spectator stands in spray paint. Nirvana FC's seats at its base, in Hamilton, were covered in graffiti including homophobic slurs and profanities on Wednesday night (August 10).

It is believed vandals entered the fenced-off facilities, which are regularly used by children, at around 9.45pm, according to the club. Leicestershire Police said it was increasing patrols in the area following the incident.

The club prides itself on being a community space in an area of the city which it said had very few such spaces to offer, and has been dismayed by the actions of "mindless vandals". Trustee Ivan Liburd said a lot of time and effort had been invested in the club.

He told LeicestershireLive: "It's quite frustrating because we're trying to build something for the community to use. There's hardly anything to do in Hamilton - there's a library and there's us.

"We just want the community to work with us. This is really disheartening when we put some much time and effort into this place."

The club prides itself on being a space for the community.

He added that the culprits would have had to make a significant effort to walk through an area of undergrowth in order to access the area. Mr Liburd said this was the second act of vandalism at the site in the last three weeks.

"We've had some damage to our dugout area as well. We don't usually get graffiti but what we do have is a regular issue with motorcycles being ridden on the park and ruining it," he added.

Leicester City Council's parks team, which maintains Hamilton Park but does not own the club facilities, arranged for the graffiti to be removed due to the offensive language it included.

A spokesperson for the police said: "Officers from the East Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) are aware of the report as well as further reports of motorcycles being ridden in an anti-social manner around the Hamilton area. The NPA will be speaking to the person who made the report yesterday and are carrying out increased patrols."