National Football League
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.

The Armed Forces Covenant

An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

1.1 We National Football League will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment

2.1 National Football League recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:

Assist in the creation of Armed Forces Community Groups and networks both within and out of the National League organisation. Value and recognise military skills and qualifications when interviewing for positions. Interview, veteran applicants who meet the selection criteria in a job specification/advert. Consider engaging with The Recovery Career Service to support as far as is practical, employment opportunities for wounded, injured or sick veterans Participate (and where possible host) in selected Career Fairs for those leaving the Armed Forces. Interview Service spouse applicants who meet the selection criteria in a job specification. Advertise suitable vacancies via the local Brigade, Garrison, Unit or base. Endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spousesand partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment: Sympathetically review requests for holidays before, during or after partners overseas deployment, when the person has leave to spend with their family. Consider special paid leave is appropriate for employees who are bereaved or whose spouse/partner is injured. Consider a HR Policy that gives Reservists 10 days special leave in order to complete their training Encourage Reservists in the National League to participate in Reserve Day and Armed Forces Week. Engage with Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association to identify opportunities Encourage employees to become cadet helpers or instructors, where practical. Encourage all 68 National League Football Clubs to sign an Armed Forces Corporate Covenant. Endeavouring and agreeing in principle to a Strategic, Regional and Local partnership linking National League Football Clubs and military units (pairing). Agreement and joint ownership of a National League and Armed Forces (Army) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU, attached at Enclosure 1, is not legally binding but provides a framework and basis for further development work in order to enhance the National League, the Armed Forces and local community projects and partnerships.

2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.