Sports leaders have united behind calls for the country to come together and thank NHS staff, fellow key workers, good neighbours and the countless others playing their part in tackling the coronavirus pandemic when the health service marks its anniversary this Sunday.
Famous names from the worlds of football, cricket and rugby are expected to join sporting chiefs from the governing bodies, leagues and clubs in showing their gratitude to all those who have played their part in dealing with Covid-19 and urging people to build on the renewed sense of community it has created.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), English Football League (EFL), Premier League, Premiership Rugby, Rugby Football Union (RFU), Team GB and The FA are all supporting the Thank You Together moment on Sunday.
At 5pm on the 5th July people are being asked to come together on their doorsteps and applaud the commitment, courage and sacrifice shown by so many, but also stay for a few minutes and join a socially distanced moment with friends and neighbours.
As well as highlighting the importance of the continuing work that sport has being doing to help sustain its communities throughout the period and the support given to the NHS nationally and locally, the sports will be making their own personal thank you to a variety of key workers, NHS staff and sports fans.
Sky Sports will also be promoting and featuring Thank You Together across its broadcasts throughout the weekend of 4 and 5 July.
Examples include:
- ECB: The upcoming Test series against West Indies will be named the #raisethebat Test Series in honour of key workers, with players wearing key workers’ names on training shirts
- EFL: All matches over the weekend will be preceded with a moment’s applause
- Premier League: All matches over the weekend will be preceded by a moment of applause led by players and match officials to say thank you to the health workers, key workers and all those who have helped others during the crisis. Clubs will also be expressing their gratitude in a variety of ways
- Premiership Rugby: Players and coaches will be recording personal ‘thank yous’ to key workers
- RFU: Eddie Jones, England’s head coach, will record a personal thank you along with players
- Sky Sports: Promoting and featuring Thank You Together across its Premier League and EFL broadcasts throughout the weekend of 4 and 5 July, as well as posting personal thank yous from its presenters and co-presenters
- The Football Association: A #ThankYouTogether mosaic on Wembley big screens over the weekend
The NHS has been working with the newly founded Together Coalition to bring along people and organisations to mark the work of the public and NHS in helping the country get through the pandemic.
Welcoming the announcement, Gary Lineker said: “It is great to see football, along with cricket and rugby, coming together with the NHS, on its birthday, to thank all the key workers with one big final nationwide clap.
“So, at 5:00pm this Sunday raise a glass, share a cuppa or, dare I say it, watch the football with your neighbours, friends or relatives. Applaud all those who are working so hard and sacrificing so much to keep us all going throughout this period. But think about how we can all help come together and start to build even better communities and a country we can be even more proud of.”
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens, said: “Sport plays a huge part in millions of people’s lives, and is a major contributor to both our physical and mental wellbeing. As sport returns to our national life following this difficult lockdown period, it’s both fitting and welcome that some of our top sports stars are helping thank frontline NHS staff who have been at the sharp end of our health service’s amazing response to coronavirus.”
ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “As we prepare to stage the first international sporting competition in the UK since Covid-19 began next week, we want to join with the NHS and the other major sporting bodies to say #ThankYouTogether, at 5pm Sunday 5 July, to all the people who have bravely played their part during this crisis. Throughout the #raisethebat Test Series, we will show our gratitude with players wearing the names of key workers on their training shirts to shine a light on their bravery and sacrifice as fans watch live from home.
“As we have all tried to navigate our way through the uncertainty of the last few months, NHS staff and other key frontline workers have kept our communities going and everyone associated with the EFL and our Clubs is incredibly grateful for their unwavering commitment in deeply challenging times.
“We will stand together with the rest of the country in demonstrating our support whilst also taking a moment to remember those members of NHS staff and the key worker community who are no longer with us as a result of this dreadful virus.”
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Masters, said: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen an incredible amount of goodwill and support across the country, including what our Premier League clubs, players, staff and supporters have done to help their local communities and the NHS. I am immensely proud of how the football community has come together and responded to those who have needed it most.
