Liverpool's Latest Trophy? The Hedgehog Cup
By Charities Correspondent
Liverpool FC has added an unusual trophy to its collection after winning the 2026 Hedgehog Cup, a national competition recognising football clubs for helping Britain's declining hedgehog population.
The Premier League club beat League One side Northampton Town 39-36 in the final after judges assessed the clubs' conservation work over a six-week period.
Run by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), the competition saw 32 clubs from the Hedgehog Friendly Football League take part by improving habitats for hedgehogs, raising awareness and encouraging wildlife-friendly groundskeeping.
Liverpool's winning campaign included installing hedgehog houses at the club's AXA Training Centre, placing BHPS wildlife check stickers on mowing equipment and creating new spaces for hedgehogs and pollinating insects as part of World Earth Day.
Players and staff also learned about hedgehog rehabilitation, including how to safely handle injured animals, while additional hedgehog houses were installed in the training ground orchard.
Northampton Town also impressed judges throughout the competition.
The club involved its men's, women's and academy teams, promoted the campaign through social media and enlisted mascot Clarence the Dragon to help spread the message on matchdays.
Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said both clubs had made a valuable contribution to raising awareness of hedgehog conservation.
She said: "While there may not be many hedgehogs living at football stadiums, training grounds and other green spaces can provide valuable habitats. The Hedgehog Cup is a great opportunity to encourage wildlife-friendly maintenance and gardening.
"Hedgehog populations have declined significantly across the UK since 2000 and it's more important than ever that we work together to help protect them."
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Rishi Jain, Liverpool FC's Director of Impact, said the club was proud of the work taking place across its training ground and academy to create spaces where hedgehogs and other wildlife could thrive.
The Hedgehog Cup is part of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society's Hedgehog Friendly Football League, which encourages clubs to make their grounds and surrounding green spaces more welcoming for hedgehogs and other native wildlife.
