Shocking realities for grassroots football

A new report out today has revealed the shocking reality the UK’s grassroots football clubs are facing due to the pandemic - with 10 per cent fearing closure in a matter of months.

Former Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James, below, has teamed up with Smart Pay As You Go energy firm Utilita to commission the ‘State of Play’ report.

The report gives a startling picture in these unprecedented times - and the impact these clubs’ closure will have on players, communities and families who rely on them.

The report also reiterates the numerous benefits, the UK’s 40,000+ grassroots clubs have on mental and physical health - and the high cost that the state will pay should thousands disappear.

Funded and created by Utilita - a leading supporter of British football from grassroots to Premier League - the new campaign aims to help the UK’s amateur clubs, their players and communities save millions of pounds by cutting their energy wastage as part of the Switch Before Pitch awareness campaign.

Utilita’s State of Play report revealed the financial impact of Covid-19 on grassroots football clubs, with clubs’ incomes reducing by 46 per cent on average, with one in 10 clubs losing 90-100 per cent of their income.

Parents’ financial struggles will get in the way of players returning to clubs too, as 17 per cent say they can’t afford equipment such as football boots, and 20 per cent say they can’t afford to return their child to their grassroots club at all.

At the centre of the campaign is a list of free and simple ways to save energy, and what those savings equate to in terms of new football equipment, such as bibs, footballs, and cones through to team strips and new goals.

‘The Prime Minister said only last week that ‘sports clubs are the life and soul of our communities’ - and he is right,’ said James.

‘Grassroots football clubs play such an important role and everything that can be done to support their existence right now, should be done.

‘This campaign will help clubs focus on saving and raising money but, most importantly, it will educate everyone it reaches about the simple ways we can all use less energy wherever we are, which will impact our pockets and, most importantly, our planet.’

Bill Bullen, Conservationist and CEO of Utilita Energy, added: ‘The report provides a snapshot of the fact that although many clubs were finding it tough to survive before Covid-19, this latest storm has created a near-impossible challenge for too many of them.

For more information on how grassroots clubs can save and raise money, and to win football-related prizes for your club, visit www. utilita.co.uk/switch-before-pitch