Great saves: Rugby Borough FC cuts energy costs and carbon with help from The Greener Game

Rugby Borough Football Club is making great saves on its energy costs and carbon footprint with a solar and battery system installed by E.ON Next and The Football Association (The FA).

The clean energy upgrades were provided as part of England Football’s Greener Game programme, supported by E.ON Next, which is improving the sustainability of grassroots football clubs nationwide. 

The Kilsby Lane club runs three full size 3G pitches used by 92 teams. It operates a full pathway from grassroots to senior football, including men’s first, development and veterans teams; a senior women’s team, and extensive boys’ and girls’ youth teams from under-7s through to under-18s. The club supports player development at every level, offering inclusive opportunities for the local community to play, compete, and progress in the game.

After an in-depth audit by E.ON specialists to see exactly how the club was using energy – along with identifying opportunities to make improvements – the clubhouse was fitted with a 13kWp solar array connected to a 17.4kWh battery that will store the renewable energy ready for when needed at peak times.

The solar panels and battery storage allow the club to generate and store its own renewable electricity. Since the audit, the club also reviewed how it heats water, isolating one of its gas boilers and cutting gas usage for water heating by 50%.

For the club, every pound saved can be reinvested back into facilities, future improvements and the wider community.

Stu Bishop, General Secretary at Rugby Borough FC, said he hoped the new technology would not just reduce costs and emissions immediately, but could also support more investment for the club’s future and inspire people around Rugby.

Stu (right, above) said: “We’re a large club with 92 teams, and the clubhouse and facilities are used seven days and evenings a week, so these changes make a big difference for a busy community club.

“Thanks to the Greener Game, we were able to install 41 solar panels on the roof, which will save us a significant amount of money over the year . . . the projected saving is just over £4,000 per year.

“It’s not just about the impact on the club, but the wider community too. The small changes we’ve made can inspire people to make similar changes at home. It feels like we’re leading the way in energy saving within the local community, and that’s something people are proud of. That ripple effect is really powerful.”

The Greener Game is set to invest £1.5 million each year into grassroots football, benefiting around 75-100 clubs a year. Many more clubs will also benefit from energy and cost saving advice and guidance from E.ON Next – with clubs signing up to the programme opting to receive an Energy Support Pack, empowering them to make their own positive changes to their club’s energy needs.

Phil Woodward, The FA’s Head of Clubs and Facilities, said: "Our Greener Game programme is a significant milestone for grassroots football and sustainability. Improving facilities is a key part of our grassroots strategy and our partnership with E.ON Next allows us to give clubs like Rugby Borough practical tools and knowledge to embrace energy-efficient practices that will not only improve their operations and benefit the environment, but will also enable them to save money.” 

Scott Somerville, E.ON UK’s Director of External Affairs, added: “With the Greener Game we are showing how the energy transition can be a force for good in our communities. We know from working with clubs around the country that the most effective way to cut bills is to enable people to generate and store their own energy and combine this with flexible time-of-use tariffs that reward smarter energy use.

“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 and The FA’s approach and how we’re making new energy work – for everyone.”

The Greener Game is addressing the concerns of football fans across England. Research from E.ON Next* highlights how important local amateur sides are to the communities they serve. More than a third (38%) of people actively engage with their local teams, with almost a quarter of people (23%) visiting their local grassroots club at least once a month.

Over the next four years, the Greener Game programme will empower grassroots clubs by providing them with funding opportunities for sustainable upgrades, alongside a wealth of educational resources and energy-saving guides. 

For more information go to www.englandfootball.com/greenergame