The Sun

Footie For All Fund

2024

In September 2023, to coincide with the new school term, The Sun launched the groundbreaking Footie for All Fund. Working with the charity Sported, a Sun investigation revealed 94 per cent of grassroots football clubs were concerned about the impact of soaring costs, with children’s participation falling as a result.

Worried grassroots coaches and parents had also contacted the Sun to explain how financial pressures were forcing youngsters out of recreational football –  denying them the massive health and socio-economic benefits of grassroots sport.

To help reverse this worrying trend, The Sun brought together grant-making charity Groundwork and the supermarket Tesco to help those football clubs in crisis.

The Footie for All Fund is the result of a truly unique and pioneering partnership which combined the wide reaching, campaigning power of The Sun.

The fund appealed for not-for-profit clubs all over the country to apply for help. To date, they have distributed more that £300,000 to teams all over the country, funding everything from children’s subscriptions to pitch rental fees, equipment and kit. Many used the funding to set up new teams to widen participation. This included adding girls’ teams,and purchasing new powerchairs for a disabled children’s football club. 

Throughout the campaign, The Sun has used its formidable voice and the power of having 360 degree coverage in print, digital, video and social channels to highlight the crisis emerging in kids sport, celebrate the huge impact small regional clubs have within their community and give practical assistance to keep them afloat.

So far the fund has supported clubs in all locations, from inner cities to isolated rural communities. They have supported all age groups up to 18, girls’ and boys’ teams, along with pan-disability clubs. The impact of grassroots sports is immeasurable and lasts a lifetime. The Sun has been proud this year in helping to make sure no child misses out. 

The Sun has over 10 million football fans reading per month. with football at the heart of our brand.  

By December all 150 grants had been given out, and The Sun team started to consider how to expand outside of football to help more grassroots clubs. Capitalising on the inspirational effect of the Euros and the Olympics, the Sun launched our Activities For All Fund, again with Tesco and Groundwork, to fund holiday clubs. They have supported everything from cricket to yoga, basketball to dance, with the aim of keeping children active and supporting the often crippling cost of holiday childcare for parents.

Footie for All and Activity for All has been backed by a host of household sporting names including England stars Millie Bright, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, and John Stones, Olympian Dame Jess Ennis-Hill and others like Gary Lineker and Olly Murs. We have also organised surprise visits from sports stars like Jarrod Bowen to train with kids. 

Coach Alan Moore, who runs the Gornal Community Football club in the West Midlands, said: “Thank you to The Sun and Tesco for helping us get two extra teams — it means 24 more girls are playing in a squad.” Alan can now use the £1,000 grant to open up two new squads.

The Sun visited the Crown & Manor club in Hackney, East London — one of the recipients of the initial awards — Olly, 39, said to the Sun: “In 2024 the cost of ­living is so high for so many families.

“For the kids to suffer and not be able to come and play football because their ­parents cannot afford it would be such a tragedy.

“So the fact The Sun and Tesco are doing this will help families to get their children playing football. That’s the good thing about this campaign. The grants are there to ensure no kid gets left behind.”

West Ham player, Tom Williams, said: “My eldest son Rocky played for Flackwell Heath. Grassroots football is majorly important. Both my boys have done it. It’s given them a sense of ­community and it’s been a great way to make friends.

“Kids also learn how to win and lose. They need to be taught both of those. It’s a great thing and as many people as possible should be involved in grassroots football.

“It shouldn’t come down to finances whether a kid can play or not. That is what The Sun’s grant ensures… It’s been fantastic, so all I can say to The Sun is thank you for helping us get girls playing ­football.”