GoCardless is stepping up its support for grassroots football with new partnerships with County FAs to help local clubs take the stress out of managing payments.
The bank payments company signed sponsorship deals with Essex County FA, Lincolnshire FA and Manchester FA, building on partnerships with 15 County FAs across England announced late last year.
The new agreements give clubs access to GoCardless’ enhanced Direct Debit for recurring payments, such as membership fees, alongside open banking for one-off transactions like tournament registrations and card fines.
The platform helps clubs automate collections, track funds, and forecast income, all while reducing costs by replacing high card fees with GoCardless’s transparent pricing. More money stays in the game, giving clubs greater financial certainty and players more opportunities to thrive.
These partnerships reflect the company’s broader mission to ease financial pressures for grassroots clubs while providing the tools that allow them to focus on growing the game.
Catherine Birkett, CFO of GoCardless, says the initial idea to support grassroots football dates back to 2011 and was driven by a desire to make it easier for grassroots clubs to collect fees.
“Partnering with various County FAs is a natural next step for us so that we can reach more clubs, take the pain out of getting paid and help them redirect their energy toward growing the game,” she says.
She notes that unlike established clubs, grassroots football relies heavily on the dedication of volunteers who often carry a significant administrative burden.
“While established clubs have more resources, local clubs benefit immensely from tools that simplify finances, reduce manual admin and cut high card-processing fees,” she says.
“Supporting grassroots football allows us to help the tens of thousands of local clubs within the FA take the stress out of their payments, ensuring more time and money is directly devoted to the game and the players.”
This emphasis on easing payment pressures for grassroots clubs aligns closely with GoCardless’ broader mission to take the pain out of getting paid, with the partnerships reflecting its commitment to solving real-world financial challenges.
“We use the most innovative technology in the business – for example, our enhanced Direct Debit and open banking payment capabilities – to help grassroots clubs automate collections and gain better visibility over their funds,” Birkett says.
“This alignment showcases our commitment to providing smaller organisations with the same sophisticated financial tools used by global household names.”
By helping clubs take the stress out of their payments, she explains, GoCardless’ technology naturally supports both its business goals and the long-term health of grassroots football.
“By promoting our technology, we are directly contributing to the financial sustainability of the grassroots game. Our platform helps clubs replace high card fees with a low-cost alternative, which provides them with greater financial certainty and more money to reinvest into their club,” she adds. “This partnership isn’t just about a logo on a trophy; it’s about providing clubs with the actual tools they need to achieve long-term resilience.”
With these partnerships, GoCardless is not only simplifying payments for grassroots clubs but also helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the game.
By combining innovative technology with a clear focus on community impact, the company is providing clubs with the tools to thrive financially, leaving players, volunteers and organisers free to focus on growing football at the local level.