As ECA develops ever more services for its growing membership, ECA Club Meet-Ups are becoming an increasingly important part of keeping Europe’s football family in touch with the association and each other.
ECA executives have been on the road in March connecting with clubs from Andorra to Austria and from Türkiye to the Netherlands. Continuing its programme of outreach and knowledge sharing, ECA met over 120 clubs in 7 locations.
Jérémy Cottino, ECA Membership Project Leader said: “We just welcomed our 564th club and the ECA Family is ever-growing. It is our mission to make it stronger by ensuring the clubs feel part of the association and the club visits showcase our unity and inclusivity.”
The aim of the ECA Club Meet-Up initiative is to reach all clubs across Europe, empower them and foster connections to help ensure “a brighter future for club football in Europe and worldwide.”
March saw ECA hold gatherings in the Netherlands, Czechia, Malta, Austria, Romania, Türkiye, and Andorra, where members and non-members of the ECA Family were given insights into ECA's mission, governance structure, and services.
Attendees also heard updates on developments in the European football landscape, including the post-2024 UEFA Men’s Club Competitions Distribution model, the second edition of the ECA Club Talent & Mentoring Programme, ECA’s new Brand Protection Service, and ECA's Sustainability initiatives.
The ECA Club Meet-Up in Türkiye had a special moment of significance. One year after the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, ECA and UNHCR convened to review relief efforts.
ECA's significant €500,000 donation, along with a successful shirt auction raising over €60,000, directly aided survivors by providing emergency assistance such as core relief items, shelters, education, and livelihoods. These contributions highlighted football's solidarity and generosity in supporting humanitarian causes, demonstrating its impactful role beyond the pitch.
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.
Clubs involved this month included:
Adana Demirspor AS, Antalyaspor, Beşiktaş JK, Fatih Karagümrük AŞ, Fenerbahçe SK, Galatasaray AŞ, Gaziantep Futbol Kulübü AŞ, Hatayspor, İstanbul Başakşehir, İstanbulspor AŞ, Kasımpaşa SK, Kayserispor, Konyaspor, MKE Ankaragücü, Pendikspor, Rizespor, Samsunspor, Sivasspor, Trabzonspor AŞ, Austrian Bundesliga, FC Blau-Weiss Linz, FC Salzburg, FK Austria Wien, LASK, SC Austria Lustenau, SCR Altach, SK Austria Klagenfurt, SK Rapid Wien, SK Sturm Graz, TSV Hartberg, Wolfsberger AC, WSG Tirol, FC Ordino, Inter d´Escaldos, CF Atletic America, UE Santa Coloma, CE Carroi, FC Santa Coloma, CF Esperanca de Andorra, ACS Petrolul 52, AS FC Universitatea Cluj, Politehnica Iasi, Universitatea Craiova, UTA Arad Fotbal Club, Otlul Galati, Sepsi Osk SF Gheorghe, Asociația Futball Klub Csikszereda, ACSM Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt, Club Sportiv Municipal Alexandr, CS Corvinul 1921 Hunedoara, CS Tunari Liga, Clubul Sportiv Concordia Chiajna, ACSC FC Arges, Asociația Sportiva Fotbal Club Buzău, Clubul Sportival Armatei Steaua, CSC1599 Selimbar, Asociatia “Clubul Sportiv Municipal Politehnica Iasi”, Fotbal Club Voluntari SA, UTA Arad, Fotbal Club CFR 1907 Cluj, AFC UTA Arad, ACS Suporter Club Otelul Galati, AFC Botosani, FCV Farul Constanta, U Craiova 1948 Club Sportiv SA, FCU 1948 Craiova Fotbal Club, FC Rapid 1923, FC FCSB, SC Dinamo 1948 SA, Fotbal Club Rapid 1923 SA, Club Sportiv Municipal Alexandria, CS Corvinul 1921 Hunedoara, CS Tunari, Clubul Sportiv al Armatei STEAUA, CSC 1599 Selimbar, 1. FC Slovácko, AC Sparta Praha, FC Slovan Liberec, FC Zlin, FK Jablonec, FK Teplice, SK České Budějovice, Horní Heršpice, MFK Karviná, FC Zlín, FC Hradec Králové, FC Viktoria Plzeň, SK Dynamo České Budějovice, FC Baník Ostrava, FK Mladá Boleslav, FK Pardubice, Bohemians Praha 1905, AFC Ajax, Almere City FC, AZ Alkmaar, FC Twente, FC Utrecht, FC Volendam, Feyenoord, Go Ahead Eagles, Heracles Almelo, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle, PSV Eindhoven, RKC Waalwijk, SBV Excelsior, SC Fortuna Sittard, SC Heerenveen, Sparta Rotterdam, Vitesse, Birkirkara FC, Birkirkara FC Women, FC Sirens, Floriana FC, Gudja United, Gzira United FC, Hamrun Spartans FC, Hibernians FC, Mosta FC, Naxxar Lions FC, Santa Lucia, Sliema Wanderers FC, Valletta FC, Zabbar St Patrick FC.
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.