Energy saving goals: Grassroots football clubs cut energy use by 25% as E.ON Next kicks off new energy bill credit

Grassroots football clubs in England are cutting back on their energy consumption by up to a quarter (25%) thanks to the Greener Game* programme from E.ON Next and England Football.

The scheme’s four pilot clubs – Shefford Sports Club, Staveley Miners Welfare FC, Bingham Town FC, and Moulton Football Club – have achieved combined savings of £9,700 in energy costs through sustainable upgrades including solar panels, battery storage and insulation.

Across the past 12 months, 250 clubs have signed up to the Greener Game and 70 clubs have received free energy audits. With 22 more clubs set to have energy solutions installations – tech like solar and batteries to generate and store electricity – completed in the next few weeks too.

The Greener Game is addressing the concerns of football fans across England. Recent research from E.ON Next** with 1,000 people across England found the cost of energy is a big concern when it comes to their local teams. Just over two in five (41%) people agree that grassroots clubs need help to cut their bills, and nearly three in five (59%) believe that the upkeep of clubhouses is a critical factor for the teams’ long-term success.

What’s more, 42% of people in England think it’s important local clubs are on the right energy tariff to help them save costs. That’s why E.ON Next has announced eligible Football Association grassroots clubs can receive up to £100 in bill credit* by moving onto its small business account.

Former England  goalkeeper, Rob Green, said: “Grassroots football clubs in England are at the heart their communities and are where careers for players of all levels begin. To secure the future of these clubs, it is vital that we support them in reducing one of their most significant overheads – energy. That’s why I’m proud to be helping E.ON Next and England Football mark the first anniversary of the Greener Game.”

Scott Somerville, E.ON UK’s Director of External Affairs, said: “Too often the energy conversation is all about global issues or technologies like solar and batteries and not about what they actually do for people: cut bills today.

“With the Greener Game we are showing that the energy transition is a force for good, not something abstract. If clubs spend less on their energy bills, they have more to invest back into what really matters to them and the communities that love them - more funds for the club, means more people through the doors and more players out on the pitches. That’s the power of E.ON’s approach and how we’re making new energy work – for everyone.”

Phil Woodward, The FA’s Head of Clubs and Facilities, said: "A year on our Greener Game pioneers are proving that grassroots football and sustainability, go hand in hand to help make savings on energy bills. We’re calling on more clubs to join E.ON Next in adopting energy-efficient practices that save money, strengthen operations and help benefit the environment compared to traditional approaches.”

E.ON Next’s research also highlights how important local amateur sides are to the communities they serve. Over a third (38%) of people actively engage with their local teams, with almost one in five (18%) saying they’re a fan. Meanwhile, one in 20 (5%) people in England play for their local grassroots team, a figure that rises to one in ten (9%) among 18-24-year-olds.

In total, around one in four people (23%) visit their local grassroots club at least once a month, supported by the fact that one in 11 people (9%) use their facilities for functions and events.

For more information on the Greener Game, visit: englandfootball.com/greenergame and on the E.ON Next Small Business Tariff offering a credit to FA grassroots football teams visit: www.eonnext.com/business.