Comments on Bruun, D.M. et al. Community-Based Recreational Football: A Novel Approach to Promote Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Prostate Cancer Survivors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 5557–5585—Time to Raise Our Game

Bruun and colleagues [1] provide a timely and thorough insight into the potential health opportunities on offer via the structural organisation of football associations, football clubs and the global grip of the beautiful game. Their extensive evaluation framework represents an important clarion call for those concerned with football-led health improvement. At the same time, it is wise to consider how this can be made realistic and relevant to those who may regard the football-led 'concept' as too alternative or even inappropriate, in the contemporary socio-political and economic context. To meet current concerns, football-led health improvement interventions must be both effective and efficient, not least because budgetary restraints inevitably stimulate comparisons between different programmes and approaches. Importantly, advocates can now point to compelling research and evaluation evidence indicating that football-based interventions (a) reach and engage older men with complex health needs [2], (b) reduces participants' alcohol consumption [3], (c) increases physical activity [3] and (d) produce significant reductions in weight [4]. Football clubs deliver these effects every day through established community outreach-programmes.