FC Edmonton announces Footy for Fort McMurray initiative for displaced Northern Alberta residents

FC Edmonton will help northern Alberta through a Footy for Fort McMurray food drive at upcoming matches on 11 May in the Amway Canadian Championship and 15 May in the North American Soccer League. The Eddies are partnering with Canada Soccer, Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) and Edmonton Food Bank to help raise awareness for this worthwhile campaign. The Eddies will also host a Footy for Fort McMurray charity match, with further details to be announced shortly.

In collaboration with the Edmonton Supporters Group (ESG), FC Edmonton will collect non-perishable food items during the club’s upcoming home matches versus Ottawa Fury FC and New York Cosmos. The donated items will be then be packed into the Eddies’ team bus before being delivered to help aid displaced residents of Fort McMurray and Northern Alberta.

The Fort McMurray fire and subsequent displacement of its residents within the city and nearby areas has permanently affected the lives of thousands of Albertans. The Eddies’ Footy for Fort McMurray initiative falls in line with Eddies owners Tom and Dave Fath’s vision of giving back to the community.

“The Wood Buffalo community welcomed our club with open arms last season,” FC Edmonton general manager Jay Ball stated. “Our ‘Footy for Fort McMurray’ campaign will allow both our club and fans to return the kindness that was shown to us during our two matches last season. It is FC Edmonton’s hope that ‘Footy for Fort McMurray’ will help draw attention and support for our neighbours to the north in this time of need.”

Last year, Fort McMurray welcomed the Eddies for a pair of North American Soccer League regular season matches at SMS Equipment Stadium during both the NASL Spring and Fall seasons. The Eddies were triumphant in their inaugural match up north, capturing the Wood Buffalo Cup by a score of 4-0 over the San Antonio Scorpions in front of a vocal, enthusiastic and welcoming crowd.

About FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is Edmonton’s professional soccer club. Founded by Edmonton entrepreneurs Tom and Dave Fath, 2016 marks the Eddies’ sixth season as a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The 12-team league operates within Canada and the United States. For more information on both FC Edmonton and the NASL, please visit www.fcedmonton.com.

About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io.