The organiser of multiple police football teams and competitions believes the National Police Healthcare Scheme (NPHS) is the ‘perfect sponsor’ for sport within the Force.
Earlier this year, the NPHS reached an agreement to extend its sponsorship of the Police Sport UK (PSUK) National Cup by three years, ensuring it will remain partners with one of the most prestigious sport tournaments in policing.
The PSUK National Cup is a men’s football competition hosting teams from police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, usually running from August to May each year.
It is split into an initial group stage followed by knockout rounds and has both open-age and veteran versions, which currently host 34 sides and 20 sides respectively.
Sponsor
As part of his role on the PSUK committee, PC John Boddy runs the administration of the competition, while also holding a similar organisational role within his Force side, Northumbria Police FC (NPFC) – who the NPHS also proudly sponsor.
John shared his delight at the continuing relationship between an ‘incredible initiative’ and the police football landscape he has so much involvement in.
“For years, the NPHS has given police officers and staff an amazing platform to look after themselves and their families, both during and after their careers,” he said.
“I am glad that the [PSUK] National Cup can be so closely associated with the NPHS, and to be honest, I wouldn’t want that affiliation to be with anyone else.
North Wales Police celebrating their win at the 2024 Police Sport UK National Cup final, sponsored by the NPHS.
“It’s a tournament deserving of only the best sponsorship, because it’s competitive, entertaining, and it’s cared about by a lot of people in the police family. It brings officers and staff together from so many different forces and allows them to represent who they work for in a sport they love.
“As for my force club, NPFC, I can say on behalf on everyone that we really appreciate all the support we get from the NPHS – again, I hope this is a partnership that can carry on for a long time, because it suits what we are about as a collective unit down to the ground.”
Qualified football coach John elaborated on NPFC, for whose men’s sides he delivers weekly training as well as managing admin such as travel, registrations and subscriptions.
PSUK National Cup
Alongside Northumbria Police Federation, the NPHS is the official sponsor across match kit for the club’s open-age and veteran men’s teams.
Their open-age team compete in the PSUK National Cup – which they won for the second time in Northumbria Police’s history in the 2022/23 season – and the Emergency Services Football League (ESFL), the home of police, fire and ambulance teams from across the country.
And older age equivalents of these two tournaments are competed in by the NPFC veterans, whose introduction was partly overseen by John four years ago, shortly after he became chief organiser on the men’s section.
The Police Sport UK National Cup.
Since this addition to NPFC in 2021, the club have raised over £15,000 for charity, largely thanks to additional friendly matches against amateur sides from the local area.
“For us, the off-pitch success means just as much as what happens on the pitch,” the 45-year-old continued.
“We have been unbelievably proud to support many charities in the last few years, including Macmillan Cancer, the Salvation Army, and the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
Mental health
“Our donations to Andy’s Man Club in particular reflect the club’s commitment to men’s mental health and wellbeing, which is so important throughout society and definitely in policing, with the unique demands and pressures we have to face on the job every day.”
Under John’s stewardship, NPFC – whose progress can be followed on both X and Instagram – have increasingly become geared towards mental health awareness, where he says the collective mentality has been changed from ‘two teams into a club’.
This is evidenced by the fact anyone within the Force can now attend training, regardless of age, ability, or fitness levels.
Northumbria Police FC in their yellow away kit – sponsored by the NPHS.
And it is this focus on inclusivity which John says makes the NPHS an ideal partner for the club.
“As police, the chance to socialise and do something active outside of work can be exactly what we need to keep our minds fit, so that’s why we have opened the club up for anyone to come and get involved,” he added.
“Our values are very much aligned with the NPHS in that sense, because they care about the exact same things as us.
“The health of the police family is so important to them, and I always get the sense they really believe in what we do as a club, so they are the perfect sponsor for us.
Kit
“I think it’s a great thing for our players and participants to have that reminder, every time they look at the kit they are wearing, of the kind of service available to them as officers and staff.
“It encourages them to remember health is more important than anything, and that’s why I am absolutely thrilled to have the NPHS on board.”
Meanwhile, you can also keep up to date with the latest across PSUK football on a dedicated website with fixture and result updates, as well as on social media through X and Instagram.
READ MORE: BLOG: Five stress busters – tips for the police family.